Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Tuesday that the government "captured 125 mercenaries of 15 different nationalities who were planning to execute terrorist actions in Venezuela."

"Thanks to intelligence work, it was learned of the arrival of mercenaries from South America with the intention of making an attempt against the life of the Executive Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez," Maduro underlined.

He detailed that Argentine Border Guard (Gendarmería Nacional) First Corporal Nahuel Gallo has been detained and charged with espionage for intending to kill Rodriguez. 

Maduro highlighted that more than two thousand people from international delegations are expected to arrive in Venezuela to participate in the presidential inauguration events on January 10. He also noted that his country "experienced a remarkable year in 2024, progressing towards full recovery and building economic prosperity."

He noted that the year 2025 will see nine elections in Venezuela, with the most significant being the elections for governors, mayors, municipal councils, and National Assembly representatives.

Venezuela condemns White House statement

On a separate matter, Venezuela vehemently condemned the White House's statement supporting opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez, labeling it a blatant violation of international law and a direct effort to maintain imperialist intervention in Latin America.

The country believes that "it is peculiar that the Joe Biden administration, which is embroiled in political disrepute and has a record of both domestic and international failures, continues to support a violent project that has already been rejected by the popular vote and the revolutionary democracy of the Venezuelan people."

"The exhausted, defeated, and retreating Biden administration is once again resorting to outdated interventionist strategies, trying to artificially inflate unimportant political figures in Venezuela while ignoring the clear sovereign will of the people," a government statement stressed. 

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Venezuela issued a warning against any attempts to "undermine the country's stability or incite violence," stating that such actions would be met with resolve, dignity, and the backing of a people confident in their strength to defeat fascism and terrorism in any situation.

The statement emphasized that "these maneuvers, devoid of legitimacy and historical context, only serve to expose the moral and institutional decay of a government nearing its end."

Additionally, the Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela have firmly rejected Gonzalez's calls for a coup, emphasizing their unwavering commitment to defending the constitution and laws of the nation, as well as their allegiance to Maduro as the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.