Vice President of Venezuela Delcy Rodriguez denounced the "unprecedented" military aggression by the United States against the national territory, perpetrated at 1:58 a.m., which culminated in the illegal kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Rodriguez stated that "there is only one president in this country and his name is Nicolas Maduro Moros." Accompanied by high-ranking officials of the Bolivarian Government, the Vice President headed an urgent meeting of the National Defense Council at the Miraflores Palace in response to the military aggression against Venezuela. She demanded the immediate release of President Maduro and his wife. Rodriguez affirmed that the true objective of this operation is a "regime change in Venezuela," which would allow the United States to "capture our energy, mineral, and natural resources." She emphasized that Venezuela "will never again be a colony of any empire." The Vice President called on the international community to be aware of this truth and urged the Venezuelan people to remain calm and unite to defend the nation's sovereignty and independence during this "stage of defense of our sovereignty and national independence." She also announced the activation of a "state of external shock" decree signed by President Maduro, which has been submitted to the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court for constitutional backing. "We demand the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores," Rodriguez stated. She added that "the people of Venezuela have taken to the streets" following a prior call from Maduro for the activation of the FANB and Bolivarian militias. The Vice President also reported that the Citizen Security Organism and "all national power" of Venezuela have been activated. She quoted Simon Bolivar: "The veil has been torn, we have already seen the light, and they want to plunge us back into darkness. The chains have been broken, we have already been free, and our enemies intend to enslave us again."
Venezuela VP Condemns US Military Aggression, Demands Maduro's Release
Venezuela's VP denounced a US military operation as "unprecedented aggression" leading to the illegal kidnapping of President Maduro. She stated the true aim is regime change and resource control, calling for national unity to defend sovereignty.
