General Secretary of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and Minister of the Interior Diosdado Cabello affirmed the continuity of the government despite the abduction of President Maduro by US forces.
Venezuela’s government has declared unwavering unity behind President Nicolás Maduro following his shocking abduction by US forces in an unprecedented act of “imperial aggression.”
The criminal operation, which also involved the kidnapping of Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, has drawn sharp international condemnation, with the United Nations Security Council set to convene an emergency meeting on Monday.
The US forces’ attack involved over 150 aircraft and marked a significant intervention amid multiple attempts to topple the democratically elected government of Maduro, including allegations of leading a drug trafficking cartel.
Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, a key figure in the ruling socialist party, said on Sunday the government remains unified behind President Maduro.
“Nicolás Maduro is Venezuela’s one and only president,” Cabello declared in a televised statement from an undisclosed location, urging citizens not to succumb to “the enemy’s provocations.”
He said the US of orchestrated the kidnapping to seize control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, a motive he claimed has been evident since the onset of bilateral tensions.
Cabello’s comment followed US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington would take control of Venezuela after kidnapping Maduro and his wife.
Venezuelan state media reported mass mobilizations in support of Maduro, with crowds gathering in cities like Trujillo and La Guaira for vigils and marches demanding his immediate release.
“We are united in prayer and resistance for our president’s return,” said one demonstrator in a rally broadcast on Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López echoed Cabello’s sentiments, announcing that the armed forces have been fully mobilized to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.
General Padrino described the criminal US operation as a “cowardly kidnapping” that resulted in the deaths of numerous members of Maduro’s security detail.
“Our forces are activated to protect freedom, independence, and sovereignty against this imperial aggression,” Padrino stated, thanking international allies for their support in denouncing the incursion.
The National Bolivarian Armed Force of Venezuela (FANB) has urged civilians to resume normal activities while remaining vigilant.
In a swift move to maintain stability, Venezuela’s Supreme Court approved Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who also serves as the oil minister, to assume the interim presidency.
Rodríguez, a key architect of Venezuela’s economic policies under Maduro, has been sanctioned by the US and European Union for her role in the government.
She is expected to be sworn in on Monday, positioning her as a potential bridge to continuity of Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution amid speculation of internal negotiations or opposition talks.
Rodríguez’s Instagram account, followed by millions, featured a recent post affirming her commitment to Bolivarian ideals, though she has yet to make a public statement on the crisis.
The international fallout has been swift and severe. UN secretary-general António Guterres labeled the US action a “dangerous precedent” that violates international law, prompting Venezuela’s request for an urgent Security Council session.
The meeting, scheduled for Monday in New York, will debate the legality of the operation, with Russia and Iran already condemning it as an act of aggression aimed at Latin American sovereignty.
Regional powers, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, and Spain, have jointly condemed the US aggression, while Cuba and Nicaragua called on the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to repudiate US interference.
Prominent world leaders and former heads of state, such as Argentina’s Cristina Fernández and Ecuador’s Rafael Correa, have linked the attack to US interests in Venezuelan oil.
Protests have also erupted outside the Brooklyn detention center in New York, where Maduro is held, with demonstrators chanting for his freedom.
(PressTV)
