Venezuela prepares defense scenarios amid US escalation in Caribbean
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Venezuela’s defense minister says the country is preparing multiple defense scenarios amid an expanded US military presence in the Caribbean.
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A tank drives during a military parade marking Independence Day in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Venezuela is marking 212 years of independence from Spain (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said on Tuesday that the country’s armed forces are studying “various military scenarios” in response to what he described as rising US military threats in the Caribbean, warning that the situation affects not only Venezuela but “all of Latin America.”
In a public address, Padrino López stated that the national state, armed forces, Bolivarian militia, police, security services, and civil defense structures are jointly preparing to confront any “possible act of aggression from US imperialism if the moment comes.”
He noted that recent drills have included command, control, and communications exercises, involving regional and national defense commands. According to the minister, Venezuela is coordinating a system that integrates armed defense with measures to safeguard the economy, supply chains, and internal production in the event of conflict.
Padrino López said that around 200,000 soldiers have been deployed across the country in ongoing training operations.
Criticism of US military conduct
Addressing relations with Washington, the Venezuelan defense minister criticized the behavior of US armed forces in the Caribbean, accusing them of acting as “mercenaries for killing.” He referred to recent incidents in which US forces targeted Venezuelan boats, actions Washington claimed were part of anti-narcotics operations.
He said such actions amounted to “killings and blockades carried out without legal justification,” adding that “major global powers and multilateral institutions have expressed concern over the excessive and illegal use of force.”
Padrino López claimed that there are “deep contradictions” within the US military itself, saying: “There is a major internal disagreement inside the US armed forces, whose members are witnessing realities far removed from the institution they were ostensibly created to serve.”
Venezuela asserts sovereignty and popular support
The defense minister emphasized that Venezuela remains committed to defending its sovereignty and right to self-determination. He said the country is prepared to “strengthen its democratic institutions and respond effectively to any aggression.”
He added that public rejection of foreign aggression exceeds 90% among Venezuelans, framing national unity as a decisive factor in deterring external military pressure.
The statements come amid a noticeable US naval buildup in the Caribbean, involving destroyers, surveillance aircraft, and special forces deployments, which Washington claims are aimed at countering drug trafficking. Caracas says the operations are part of a broader strategy of coercion and territorial pressure.
