A massive popular mobilization marked the swearing‑in ceremony of new community leaders under the banner of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reaffirmed his “absolute loyalty” to the Venezuelan people and renewed his vow to carry forward the legacy of Hugo Chávez.

Under a clear sky on Monday, December 1, tens of thousands gathered in front of the Miraflores Palace for the formal induction of the newly formed grassroots bodies, known as the Bolivarian Community Commands of Integral Communities (CCBI).

Amid chants and red banners, Maduro invoked his oath made to Chávez at his farewell, declaring,“Just as I swore absolute loyalty to our Commander Chávez … today I swear absolute loyalty to you, until the last breath," adding, “I will never, ever fail you.”

Maduro framed the moment as a reaffirmation of the revolutionary path and a call to defend Venezuela’s sovereignty. He said the country seeks “peace with sovereignty, peace with equality,” rejecting any peace rooted in subjugation or colonial hangovers. “We don’t want the peace of slaves, nor the peace of the colony,” he affirmed, instead pledging “freedom, a republic, peace with dignity.”

To underpin his message, Maduro emphasized that true power stems from popular organization. “You are the national power, in that street, in that community,” he told the crowd. “If you consolidate yourselves there as People’s Power, national power becomes invincible, eternal, perpetual.” He reiterated his commitment to deepening the Bolivarian Revolution and advancing a model of political, economic, and social reconstruction built on grassroots foundations.

Venezuela has 200,000 troops ready to defend it

Maduro stated that the people of Venezuela are preparing to defend their land, sovereignty, and dignity, “to ensure that future generations inherit a free homeland. He demanded that just as Venezuela does not interfere in the affairs of any country, others "should refrain from intervening in Venezuela’s affairs.”

He also highlighted that Caracas has a professional and disciplined force of over 200,000 military personnel, ready to defend the nation’s security, peace, and sovereignty, reaffirming Venezuela’s desire for peace grounded in sovereignty, equality, and freedom, making it clear that the country does not seek a “peace of slaves.”

At the same event, PSUV’s Secretary‑General Diosdado Cabello praised the new community structure, calling the PSUV “the main force of the Bolivarian Revolution” and stressing its track record of electoral success.

He noted that the formation of the CCBI drew on community assemblies held across 237,000 streets nationwide, involving farmers, fishermen, women, and youth, and that the second phase engaged more than 47,000 communities ahead of Monday’s ceremony.

US escalates its anti-Venezuela campaign

This comes as the United States continues to escalate its campaign against Venezuela, with the alleged aim of curbing drug trafficking into the country.

On November 29, US President Donald Trump declared that the airspace over and around Venezuela is to be treated as completely closed, posting on Truth Social a message directed at airlines, pilots, drug traffickers, and human traffickers, urging them to consider the entire airspace above and surrounding Venezuela off-limits and warning that this restriction is to be enforced.

This follows remarks made by Trump, warning on November 27 that US operations against Venezuelan drug trafficking "by land" would begin very soon, claiming, "We've almost stopped — it's about 85% stopped by sea. The land is easier, but that's going to start very soon."

The closure declaration follows a substantial US military deployment to the Caribbean, the largest in decades. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, including advanced fighter jets, warships, and over 15,000 personnel, entered the region in mid-November. Strategic B-52 bombers have also flown near Venezuelan territory, including a high-profile flight near Caracas on November 24.

These moves fall under Operation Southern Spear, a newly launched campaign targeting what Washington calls "narco-terrorist" threats in the Western Hemisphere. The US has already conducted over 20 maritime strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels since September, killing at least 83 people.

Additionally, on November 24, the US designated the Cartel de los Soles as a "foreign terrorist organization." The US government alleges this "cartel" is led by Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials, though Venezuela rejected the designation as a "ridiculous fabrication".​