Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has signed a law establishing the country's general defense command amid the worsening situation in the Caribbean region. The new structure will integrate the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, government agencies and people's organizations into a unified national defense system.
Mr. Maduro said: “Today we announce a law to command the total defense of the country – this is a law that upholds the Bolivarian doctrine.” The performance was broadcast on VTV television channel.
According to him, the law institutionalizes the structure of the agencies established within the framework of the “comprehensive defense concept” and provides for the creation of defense teams at the national, regional and municipal levels.
“(The teams) will include all state institutions, military and civil components, as well as people's power,” the head of state explained. The main task of the defense system will be to prepare society to defend the country in all conditions.
The passage of the law comes amid growing tensions in the Caribbean region. From September to November, the US continuously used the military to destroy boats off the coast of Venezuela that were believed to be carrying drugs. US television channel NBC reported at the end of September that the US armed forces were considering options to attack drug traffickers inside Venezuela.
In November, US President Donald Trump said Nicolas Maduro's days leading the country were coming to an end but assured that Washington had no intention of going to war with Caracas. Colombian President Gustavo Petro objected to the US action, accusing Trump of wanting to conquer the Bolivarian republic under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking and saying it violated international law. Petro also pointed to the deaths of 27 citizens of Latin American countries due to attacks on ships.
According to the New York Times, the US government is considering three possible options for military action in Venezuela. Among them: carrying out air strikes on military targets, sending special forces or deploying anti-terrorism forces.
