Amid a growing tension with the United States, the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Madurohe launched on Tuesday the External shock state decree signed on the eve, after confirming new US military actions in the Caribbean. The measure grants Extraordinary powers To the Executive to respond to eventual aggressionsin a context that Caracas describes as “Direct threat” by Washington.
“Today the consultation process of the constitutional decree of state of exception to decree an external statement, according to the Constitution, and protect our people, our peace, our stability. This decree has scope in all directions If Venezuela were attacked“Maduro said in his television program With Maduro+.
The firm had been confirmed by the vice president, Delcy Rodríguezwho said that the decree “would be activated immediately“In case of” any type of aggression “against Venezuela.
The decree grants the Executive Extended powers regarding defense and national securitybefore an eventual military aggression. According to the Venezuelan government, the presence of US troops close to the country’s coast constitutes a direct threat. Washington, meanwhile, argues that the deployment Respond to drug trafficking operations. “Our goal is to guarantee that All the nation, each citizen, has the support and protection of all the forces of Venezuelan society to respond to any threat o Attack against the country, “Maduro said in the national chain.
An early defense
The state of external shock is contemplated in article 338 of the Venezuelan Constitution and is decreed in case of external conflict that endangers the security of the nationits citizens or its institutions. It is applied during 90 days extendable another 90 With parliamentary authorization and gives the government extraordinary powers to mobilize troops, restrict civil rights and control media. Other types of exception states have been decreed previously by Chavista governments, but So far the external shock state was never applied.
Last week, the president had already anticipated the possibility of issuing the decree, denouncing a Aggression escalation by the United States and mention the US military deployment in Caribbean Aguas. As he said, Venezuela has been “economically and politically” attacked, and has always managed to “get ahead”.
This Monday, the vice president announced that Maduro “Subscribed the external shock decree“, who contemplates a”Temporary restriction“Constitutional rights and”Special powers“For Maduro in case the United States” will dare to attack“The Caribbean country also denounced that the US naval deployment constitutes, in reality, An excuse to force a “regime change” in Caracas.
In that context, Maduro could order the total mobilization of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), take immediate control of the infrastructure of public services, the oil industry and basic companies, with the objective of ensure its operation. The activation of all citizen security plans is also contemplated.
As Rodríguez explained during an encounter with the diplomatic corps in Caracas, this initiative seeks “reinforce national defense”In the face of possible external actions that put the stability of the country. “Those who think that an armed, military and warr aggression against Venezuela will only harm the Venezuelan government, they will be wrong again: they are It will affect the whole countrymaybe for decades. HE will affect our region And, have no doubt, Also to the United States”, Warned the vice president.
Pressure in the Caribbean
USA It deployed eight warships in the Caribbean and a nuclear submarinewith the argument of “fighting drug trafficking.” In that context, it has already Three boats destroyedwith a total balance of 14 deathsthat the authorities describe as “narcoterrorist”, despite Do not present evidence that corroborate it. Venezuela, however, interprets these movements as part of a Intervention attempt to force a political change in the country.
This Tuesday, the president Donald Trump declared that the United States Intensify drug trafficking surveillance in Latin America. Confirmed that they occurred Four attacks against boats allegedly belonging to drug traffickers in the Caribbean.
“Venezuela has been Very dangerous With regard to drugs and other things. Let’s see what happens to Venezuela“Trump told reporters before meeting the military dome on the outskirts of Washington.
He said, “Before we had many drugs that entered the sea. But currently, there are no boats, there are no fishing boats, there is nothing, ”he said, before adding that now they are going to redouble the surveillance of posters that transport drugs by land means.
Subsequently, before the high military commandersTrump insisted that the four boats destroyed by US forces were linked to drug trafficking. It did not transcend that you have contributed new evidence.
