The Minister for Defense and sectoral vice president of Defense and Sovereignty, G/J Vladimir Padrino López, reported this Thursday that the Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela (Umbv) registered an increase of 53% in its enrollment during the last year.
The statements were offered during the investiture ceremony of the “General Cipriano Castro” promotion, in Caracas, in the midst of a context marked by the US military deployment in the Caribbean.
During his speech, the minister stressed that, despite the “vulgar gringo threats,” citizens continue to assume their role as soldiers, in defense of peace and territorial integrity.
Military vocation and popular response
Padrino López highlighted that the increase in registrations reflects the commitment of the Venezuelan people to the defense of their sovereignty.
“This is an expression of the Venezuelan people, who feel in their hearts the living desire to defend their land,” he stated.
Geopolitical context and military training
The investiture ceremony was held at the Umbv headquarters, with the participation of military authorities, family members and new cadets. The ceremony coincided with a phase of military exercises in the country, in response to the increase in the US naval presence in nearby waters.
Padrino López reiterated that Venezuelan military training is based on principles of sovereignty, discipline and historical consciousness, and that the youth who enter the Umbv represent a generation committed to national defense.
“We will see how this land gives birth to entire generations full of light and joy, after so much sacrifice, to defend it,” said the military leader.
Padrino also recalled that, 54 years ago, he was invested as a cadet and received his dagger “my Supreme Commander Hugo Chávez, this date has become a milestone for all men and women who decide to follow the glorious career of arms. Today, in his honor, we will deliver the replica of the Espadín of Sucre to the new cadets of the Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela”, also, what he called, the Venezuelan resistance to the naval blockade imposed by powers Europeans at the end of 1902 and beginning of 1903.
