The Government of Venezuela today activated Operation Independence 200, which comprises the Management Organs and Integral Defence Zones (ZODI) of the northern states of La Guaira and Carabobo, announced President Nicolás Maduro.

Through social media, the head of state communicated that starting at 00:00, local time, the exercise began simultaneously in those coastal localities, which comprises «the integral activation of all plans for defence, resistance, and permanent offence.»

Maduro indicated that it is a new modality of activation by ZODI with the participation of the Bolivarian National Armed Force, the National Militia, and the social and popular forces.

He specified that there will be 27 territorial actions to be fulfilled to «comprehensively secure and protect» those territories.

«We will go little by little, fine-tuning the popular military machinery of the powerful national movement for the defence of peace, sovereignty, and the right to a future,» he affirmed.

The Sectoral Vice President for Politics, Citizen Security, and Peace, Diosdado Cabello, from La Guaira, stated that the people are fully aware of the powerful enemy that «wants to take control of the natural resources» of the Bolivarian Republic.

He emphasised that Venezuela is not on the defensive, but organised and mobilised in its integral defence, and in the face of the imperialist siege and its false narratives, the people are preparing responsibly.

Cabello highlighted that the imperialists and warmongers know that here «it will cost them a lot» because this is a humble and peaceful people, but it has been preparing conscientiously and actively on all fronts «to resist for as long as necessary the attacks they want to make on our country.»

Referring to the Independence 200 exercise, the General Secretary of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela declared that the plans include the deployment of all Peace Quadrants with very clear objectives in institutions, organisations, and public services.

These comprise actions for the protection of strategic oil installations; petrochemical, oil pipelines, gas pipelines, multipurpose pipelines, service stations and fuel filling stations, in addition to electrical stations, he specified.

He detailed that the operation also includes the activation of more than 20 community radio stations, for the timely information of the people.

In the last eight weeks, the Bolivarian Government, together with the National Armed Force and the National Militia in perfect popular, military, and police fusion, have carried out different preparation exercises, in response to the threat of aggression from the United States with its military deployment in Caribbean waters.