Vladimir Padrino Lopez, General-in-Chief of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) and Minister of Defense, reaffirmed on Saturday Venezuela's strength and dignity in the face of escalating imperialist threats.

Speaking at a ceremony held in tribute to the nation's musicians, Padrino Lopez reiterated that the civic-military-police union remains one of the greatest achievements of the Bolivarian process and the strategic foundation for defending peace and sovereignty.

His remarks come amid a sharp increase in US military deployments across the Caribbean, carried out under the pretext of anti-narcotics operations. Since late August, Washington has sent warships, surveillance aircraft, and special operations units to the southern Caribbean, culminating this month with the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group.

The US has since extrajudicially killed more than 80 people, claiming they were drug traffickers, while failing to provide evidence to back up its claims.

Framing the current moment as a historic crossroads between "vassalage or patriotism," Padrino Lopez stressed that the Venezuelan people have repeatedly demonstrated their resolve to defend independence and territorial integrity.

Venezuela Rejects US Escalation, Condemns Trinidad and Tobago's Role

The minister denounced Washington's actions as a direct threat to regional stability, noting that the scale and configuration of US assets "has nothing to do with combating drug trafficking." Instead, he argued, the buildup reflects an effort to coerce the Venezuelan state under the guise of counternarcotics.

Padrino Lopez also condemned the government of Trinidad and Tobago for permitting US naval forces to use its territory for strategic positioning. Tensions intensified following the docking of the USS Gravely in Port of Spain in late October, with the Caribbean nation now participating in joint operations linked to the wider US escalation.

He noted that Trinidadian fishermen have also fallen victim to the US' extrajudicial killings. Caracas has since suspended bilateral energy cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago, describing the government's decision as "a renunciation of sovereignty in favor of imperial interests." Public discontent within Trinidad and Tobago has grown in recent weeks as citizens question their government's alignment with Washington.

"Enough of lies and slander, of imposing power and hegemony by force," Padrino Lopez said. "For Venezuela, returning to slavery is impossible."

Caracas Mobilizes Civilians and the FANB in Response to US Activity

As US naval traffic intensified near Venezuelan waters, President Nicolas Maduro convened nationwide training sessions and integral defense exercises. From Caracas to San Cristobal, thousands of Venezuelans mobilized to reject another attempt at foreign intervention.

Participants invoked past episodes, including the 2002 coup, the destabilization campaign of 2019, and more than two decades of sanctions and blockades. Many argued that the latest US operations represent a continuation of Washington's coercive strategy, now with an escalated military dimension.

International observers have likewise questioned the US narrative. Multiple investigative reports indicate that primary drug trafficking routes into the United States run through Central America and the Pacific, not the southern Caribbean,  raising further doubts about Washington's stated objectives.

FANB to Safeguard National Popular Consultation

Padrino Lopez confirmed that the FANB will accompany and safeguard the Fourth National Popular Consultation on Sunday, November 23, ensuring peaceful, orderly, and secure conditions for democratic participation across the country.

He noted that the civic-military alliance, strengthened over two decades of resistance to sanctions, economic siege, and foreign interference, remains central to Venezuela's capacity to confront external threats.

The minister concluded by reaffirming Venezuela's firm and unified stance in the face of intimidation and destabilization efforts. He stressed that the defense of the homeland will continue to be carried out jointly by the FANB and the organized people, who have shown resilience under prolonged aggression.

"Venezuela will not kneel," he declared. "Our sovereignty is not negotiable, and our people will defend it with dignity."

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