Nicolás Maduro stated this Thursday that he is convinced that Venezuela will achieve victory if it declares itself a “republic in arms”, in the midst of the growing tensions with the United States over the military deployment which the official leader described as a “threat” to overthrow him.
During a commemorative event for the 105th anniversary of the Bolivarian Military Aviation, broadcast by Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Maduro – wearing an olive green suit and red cap – urged the air force to remain “alert, ready and willing to defend our rights as a free and sovereign nation.”
“If history demands that Venezuela declare itself a republic in arms,” he said, “we have only one destiny: victory.”
Maduro, who intervened remotely, denounced that for 17 weeks “imperialist” foreign forces have been threatening the peace of the Caribbean and South America “under false and extravagant arguments.” He assured, however, that neither the economic blockade, the sanctions nor “this psychological war” have managed to break the country’s will.
“Our people have prepared with imperturbable serenity to defend their homeland,” he declared, referring to the recent days of civil enlistment and military exercises in the country.
Maduro also highlighted the “popular-military-police union” and the “fabulous force of resistance” of the Venezuelan people in the face of what he called “immoral pressures” from Washington.
Military deployment in the Caribbean and air crisis
The tension is framed by the US military deployment in the Caribbean – recently reinforced with the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford -, justified by Washington as part of the anti-drug fight.
On Monday, the State Department appointed Poster of the Suns -which the Trump administration links to Maduro and senior military commanders- as a terrorist group, an accusation that Caracas has called “invention.”
Meanwhile, an air connectivity crisis has worsened following the United States’ recommendation to “exercise caution” when flying over Venezuela. In response, the Venezuelan government on Wednesday revoked flight concessions to airlines such as Iberia, TAP, Turkish Airlines, Avianca, Latam Colombia and Gol.
