Venezuela’s President activates national defense command

On Nov 12, 2025 4:38 PM

epa08218163 The President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro holds a press conference with international media, in Caracas, Venezuela, 14 February 2020. Maduro asked 'friendly countries' on Friday to form a group to help, support and favor an inclusive dialogue for the parliamentary elections that will be held this year. EPA-EFE/Rayner Pena

CARACAS, Nov. 12 (YPA) – Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro signed the Law on the comprehensive national defense command on Wednesday, marking a significant step toward consolidating military and civilian institutions under a single command structure.

According to a broadcast by VTV, Maduro signed the legislation, with the signing of this law, all Comprehensive Defense Commands, which bring together all public institutions of the Venezuelan state, the military, and all popular power, must be activated at dawn.

The law mandates the activation of defense commands that bring together the country’s armed forces, police, and popular forces. Maduro emphasized the necessity of this move in the early hours of the morning, citing the need to protect the nation from both internal and external threats.

The significance of the law lies in strengthening the authority of the president and the military in emergency situations. It demonstrates a trend toward militarizing the state and society and is also being used politically to consolidate Maduro’s grip on power in the face of the opposition and international sanctions.

In a related development, Colombian President Gustavo Petro also ordered on Wednesday the suspension of intelligence sharing with the United States.

About a week earlier, the Venezuelan president had approved proposals from the United Socialist Party to resort to armed struggle in the event of any US aggression, given the presence of US naval forces in the Caribbean region.