Venezuela conducts nationwide coastal defence drills

Venezuela launched nationwide coastal defence exercises under the codename “Independence 200” as part of a broader manoeuvre the government says is meant to protect sovereignty and internal stability amid rising regional tensions. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, who also serves as Vice President for Defense and Sovereignty, supervised the deployment across coastal states including La Guaira, Miranda, Anzoátegui, Falcón, Nueva Esparta, Carabobo, Sucre and Zulia, and presided over operations staged from La Orchila Island.

Officials described a large‑scale mobilisation of naval vessels, aircraft, militia boats and shore‑based air‑defence systems, with military sources reporting roughly a dozen warships, about 22 aircraft, some 20 militia boats, drone operations and simulated amphibious landings. Electronic‑warfare assets and integrated forces were deployed to secure maritime approaches and assert control over coastal corridors. The exercises also incorporated militia units alongside regular forces, reflecting Caracas’s “people’s war” doctrine and signalling an emphasis on total‑population defence.

Padrino framed the drills as a direct response to what he termed a “gross military threat” in the Caribbean and warned against alleged covert destabilisation efforts by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, asserting that any attempt to undermine Venezuela would fail. Government statements cited recent U.S. naval and air activity in the region—such as destroyer patrols and aerial missions—as a proximate justification for the heightened posture.

While Venezuelan authorities insist the operations are defensive, analysts note the exercises serve dual purposes: reinforcing deterrence against external actors and sending a domestic political message of strength. Observers also highlight practical aims, such as protecting offshore approaches, deterring incursions, and demonstrating readiness for maritime interdiction tasks.

Questions remain about long‑term sustainability given Venezuela’s economic constraints and the maintenance state of its equipment. Regional and U.S. observers are expected to monitor the drills for their potential impact on maritime security, counter‑narcotics operations and wider military‑diplomatic dynamics in the southern Caribbean. Caracas said the manoeuvres will continue while authorities assess threats and refine coastal defence coordination.