Venezuela activates defense plan in four western states amid "threat" from the U.S.

Caracas.- Venezuela activated this Friday in four states in the west of its territory the defense plan called 'Independence 200' for the "integral defense" of the country against what it denounces as a "threat" from the United States, which maintains a military deployment in the Caribbean Sea near the South American nation. Citizens, military personnel, and police mobilized early in locations in Mérida and Trujillo, in the Venezuelan Andes, as well as in Lara and Yaracuy, as part of the "preparation" actions to "continue winning peace," according to President Nicolás Maduro. The 'Independence 200' operation, announced in September, has been progressively activated since last week in more than a dozen regions, mostly coastal, as well as in the insular Nueva Esparta, in the southeast of the Caribbean, and in border states with Colombia, such as Táchira and Amazonas, the latter also bordering Brazil. Through his Telegram channel, Maduro announced the "integral" activation of the so-called Integral Defense Operational Zones (ZODI) in Mérida, Trujillo, Lara and Yaracuy, a "key line of defense guarantee, economic stability and from all points of view", according to the Chavista leader.

"We are completing all the preparations to reach the optimal state for the integral defense of our homeland, (...) in perfect union of all our people, of all sectors, to win peace and exercise sovereignty," he expressed.

In that sense, the president added that, in "perfect popular-military-police fusion", Venezuela is preparing "to make the territory impregnable". This Thursday, Venezuela activated the plan in Apure state (west, bordering Colombia) with the aim, according to the governor of that region, the Chavista Wilmer Rodríguez, of guaranteeing the "sovereignty, peace and protection" of citizens in the face of the deployment of the US.

Maduro asserted this Thursday that the high political and military command of his country is "more united than ever" in the defense of the homeland.

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Likewise, the Head of State indicated that 6.2 million citizens are enlisted in the Bolivarian Militia "as part of the integral system of national defense". The Government insists that the defense of the country is also the responsibility "of the people" and "not only" of the authorities. The U.S. defends its deployment as an operation against alleged drug trafficking from the South American nation, while the Maduro administration claims it is a "threat" to bring about a "regime change" and "seize" the country's resources, such as oil.