Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro approved this Tuesday (11/11) a new law on national comprehensive defense that creates and determines the immediate activation of the so-called “Unified Defense Force.” The new organization now brings together the armed forces, government agencies, and civil society organizations in coordination with the state under the same system of coordination, in line with the stated goal of organizing the people and institutions around national defense.
In effect, this measure strengthens the state’s centralized control over various sectors of society by allowing the government to simultaneously mobilize military and civilian forces in situations deemed to be a threat to the country’s sovereignty and internal stability. The announcement was made by President Maduro during an official ceremony at the Miraflores Palace, the government headquarters in Caracas, and was broadcast live on Venezuelan state television.
When signing the new law, President Maduro declared that all orders must be activated “early in the morning” this Wednesday (12/11).
“With my signature, the order must be activated so that the Joint Defense Force will be established and structured and its preparatory work can begin (…) I therefore sign and implement the law creating the Joint Defense Force at the national level,” he said.
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Strengthening “correct doctrine”
The sanctions come amid heightened tensions with the United States following the increased presence of American troops in the Caribbean. President Maduro said in his speech that the law is an important step in strengthening “appropriate principles” of defense and sovereignty. The head of state linked the measures to a situation of “permanent psychological warfare” and said the country must be ready to defend itself “in every possible way.”
“The signing of the Command Act for the Integrated Defense of Venezuela is an act that signals the evolution of our concept of maintaining peace and national preparedness in the face of threats,” he declared.
The President also stressed that the purpose of the new regime is to ensure that the country is able to respond to all types of threats, with or without force. President Maduro said, “If we are forced to engage in an armed struggle to protect the legacy of our liberators, we will be ready to win.”
President Maduro also said the activation of the Joint Defense Force was part of a series of measures to strengthen so-called “national peace.” Among these actions, he cited a long period of popular resistance, popular military and police offensives, and the participation of millions of Venezuelans in territorial defense plans.
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