Maduro hails military at year-end ceremony
Venezuelan leader praises armed forces amid U.S. tensions
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro lauded the armed forces as “invincible warriors” and received a .50-calibre sniper rifle during a year‑end ceremony at the Bolivarian Naval Military Academy in La Guaira, portraying the military as the guarantor of national sovereignty amid heightened tensions with the United States. Flanked by senior officials, Maduro said the armed forces’ values of emancipation and humanism had been reinforced during weeks of confrontation with Washington and that 2025 had brought consolidation of national power “on the ground,” with popular and military forces united under his defense plan.
Maduro framed the ceremony as a celebration of the military’s role as “emancipators, not imperialists,” and highlighted recent exercises and cooperation between the armed forces and civilian institutions. He accused the U.S. of seeking to destabilize his government through sanctions and diplomatic pressure, arguing those measures have instead strengthened Venezuela’s resolve and readiness to defend its territorial integrity. The president insisted the armed forces are modernized and loyal to the Bolivarian revolution, urging soldiers to remain vigilant in defense of national dignity.
Opposition figures dismissed the rhetoric as diversionary, claiming Maduro uses nationalist appeals and military pageantry to deflect from severe economic problems — including high inflation and shortages — and to shore up regime support through reliance on the armed forces. Human rights groups continue to accuse security forces of abuses, allegations denied by the government.
Regional analysts said Maduro’s speech follows a familiar pattern of defiance toward Washington designed to project strength without tipping into direct confrontation, as both sides prefer political and economic leverage. The public presentation of military hardware and the president’s emphasis on unity underscore the central role the armed forces play in Venezuela’s political narrative at a time of ongoing international pressure and domestic uncertainty.
