Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez confirms deployment of full military capabilities post US strikes

Key Highlights

• Authorities are still assessing damage and potential civilian casualties.
• Acting on the instructions of President Nicolás Maduro, the FANB has begun a comprehensive nationwide defensive deployment.
• “Faced with this vile and cowardly attack, which threatens peace and stability in the region, we issue our strongest denunciation before the international community and all multilateral organisations,” Padrino López said.
• Accusing the US government of a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and international law, López also rejected any foreign military presence on Venezuelan soil, warning that any invasion would be an “outrage” driven not by counter-narcotics concerns but by “insatiable greed for our strategic resources” and an attempt to impose regime change.
• Citing constitutional provisions as well as the Organic Law on States of Exception and the Organic Law of National Security, the government has declared a state of external commotion – virtually a state of national emergency.