Venezuela Warns It Could Activate a "National Mobilization" in Case of U.S. Aggression

The Government of Venezuela warned this Thursday that it would activate a "national mobilization" in the event of a military aggression by the United States. This statement comes amid a climate of tension over what Caracas describes as the "harassment" by U.S. aircraft near its coasts in the Caribbean.

The Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, stated that President Nicolás Maduro has already signed a decree of a state of external commotion. This decree grants special powers and allows for the deployment of the nation's full military, economic, and social potential in the face of what Caracas qualifies as a "threat" from the United States. The warning includes the possibility of a national mobilization.

"In case we are aggressed by North American imperialism, the entire national potential will become national power. This could even lead to a national mobilization, depending on the aggression," Padrino said in a speech broadcast by the state channel 'VTV'.

The "Military Harassment" by U.S. Combat Aircraft

The announcement came after Venezuelan air defense systems detected the presence of "more than five vectors" with the characteristics of combat aircraft in the Caribbean. The minister denounced military harassment by Washington.

According to Padrino, these are F-35 aircraft stationed in Puerto Rico that approached Venezuelan airspace. He further claimed that an international airline notified the Maiquetía control tower of the presence of these aircraft.

"I denounce to the world the military threat of the United States against the people of Venezuela. [...] It is nothing less than a provocation, but also a threat to our national security," the military chief declared.

The minister explained that the decree of a state of external commotion seeks to reinforce the nation's integral defense and protect its citizens. According to Padrino, this decree aims to benefit citizens "to protect their economic interests, their production, their life, their health." He added, "That is what states of exception are for in a revolution; never, ever in a revolution has a state of exception been applied to act against the people, never, ever."

Increase in U.S. Operations

The Venezuelan government has repeatedly denounced an increase in U.S. military operations in the Caribbean. In September, Padrino stated that Washington had tripled its intelligence and surveillance flights against Venezuela, intensifying them during the night and early morning.

Currently, the United States maintains in the region at least eight warships, a nuclear attack submarine, more than 4,500 soldiers, and state-of-the-art F-35B fighter jets in Puerto Rico, as part of a deployment in the Caribbean justified by the fight against drug trafficking.

The Accusation Against Maduro

Washington accuses President Nicolás Maduro of leading the so-called Cartel of the Suns, an organization alleged to be linked to drug trafficking. In a confidential notice to Congress, the Trump Administration recently acknowledged that the country is in a "formal armed conflict" with cartels, which served as the legal basis for three military strikes in the Caribbean that left 17 dead, some of them on boats allegedly coming from Venezuela.

Caracas rejects these accusations and maintains that they are a pretext to justify a military intervention. "We are prepared for any scenario. They will not subdue us with threats or with intelligence operations," concluded Padrino López.