Spanish
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reiterated this Wednesday that his country only "belongs" to its nationals, this within the framework of a new defensive military deployment in the Metropolitan Area of Caracas, where some seven million people reside.
"Each Integral Defense Zone (ZODI) that is activated sets the example, is surpassed, so we surpass ourselves day by day in preparation for defense, preparing the active, creative and prolonged popular resistance. And in permanent offensive, with the initiative. Venezuela belongs to Venezuelans. We will continue to win peace, exercising our full sovereignty and defending the right to life, to the joy of a people that builds its maximum possible happiness," said the president in a telephone contact with the state-owned Venezolana de Televisión.
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In the same vein, he described the recent defensive deployments in the East and Center of the Bolivarian nation as an "absolute success", commenting that in these exercises "sovereignty is being exercised, equipment is being deployed and the entire military-popular-police force is being activated", a pillar on which Venezuela's military doctrine rests. In addition, he announced that on October 16th, the activation of the ZODI corresponding to the states of Táchira, Apure, and Amazonas, bordering Colombia, will take place. "We are moving forward, because Venezuela today is transformed into an example. At this hour that I am speaking, today we are an example of dignity, of courage, of a peaceful, decent and hardworking people. And it is necessary to increase all the tasks in the days that are passing and to come, all the tasks of integral preparation for defense. Ever greater deployment and maximum preparation, with absolute confidence in the destiny of our homeland", he valued.U.S. Aggression in the Caribbean
Currently, Washington is carrying out military actions and bombings in waters near Venezuelan territory with the argument —without basis or evidence— of combating drug trafficking cartels. Caracas has called these actions an "aggression" and has questioned the real reason for the operations. In addition, last August, the U.S. deployed a large military contingent in the area.
The president of Venezuela claims that his country is the victim of "a multiform war" orchestrated from the US. The Venezuelan State, he has reiterated, is being subjected to an "armed aggression to impose a regime change" and a "puppet" Government, in order to "steal its oil, gas, gold and all natural resources". Many world and regional leaders have also considered that there is no evidence to support the US accusation against the president.
