The State of External Commotion decree had been prepared and announced on September 29, 2025, weeks after the start of the US naval deployment in the Caribbean, but its content was unknown, which was updated with the events of the weekend. The measure has the force of law and will last for 90 days, with a possible extension for another 90 days.
The Venezuelan Government published this Monday, January 5, in the Official Gazette the State of Foreign Commotion decree, which grants broad powers to the Presidency and orders the security forces to capture “any person involved in the promotion or support” of the United States attack last Saturday.
The document, dated January 3, 2026, is signed by Nicolás Maduro, captured early that day along with Cilia Flores by the US military and currently imprisoned in New York.
“The national, state and municipal police bodies must immediately undertake the search and capture throughout the national territory of any person involved in the promotion or support of the armed attack of the United States of America against the territory of the Republic (…) with a view to their trial,” states the text, endorsed by the now “president in charge”, Delcy Rodríguez.
*Read also: Delcy Rodríguez is sworn in as “president in charge” in an express ceremony
The decree had been prepared and announced on September 29, 2025, weeks after the start of the US naval deployment in the Caribbean, but its content was unknown, which was updated with the events of the weekend. The measure has the force of law and will last for 90 days, with a possible extension for another 90 days.
The Constitution provides that, in the event of states of emergency, a decree guarantees the president almost total political, economic and social power over the country. It is the first time that this figure has been invoked since the approval of the Constitution in force since 1999, which indicates that it can be decreed in the event of a conflict that “seriously endangers the security of the nation, its citizens, or its institutions.”
The text also orders “the militarization of the infrastructure of public services, the oil industry and other basic industries of the State”, while the personnel of such services or companies “will be temporarily subjected to the military regime.”
In addition, it points out that the Executive may “order the requisition of assets necessary for national defense”, suspend the right to public meetings and demonstrations and even “any other measure that is necessary to protect the people”, although it adds that measures will be taken to guarantee the rights to life and personal freedom, among others.
Official Gazette – Foreign commotion decree by AsSuch
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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