The so-called "number two" of the Chavista regime, Diosdado Cabello, launched a new threat to the United States this Saturday during a military exercise in the state of Aragua, in the north of the country.
In a national broadcast on the state-run Venezuelan Television (VTV) channel, the official declared: “Let them prepare for a 100-year war if they ever set foot in Venezuela. They know that, after 100 years, we Bolivarians will be the victors. They must be very clear: whoever tries to attack our country is winning a 100-year war, and we must be implacable in defending our homeland.”
During the broadcast, Cabello called on Venezuelans to maintain a “prolonged active resistance” and a “permanent offensive”, in what dictator Nicolás Maduro has defined as the “transition from unarmed struggle to armed struggle”, in the face of what he considers an attempt by Washington to bring about a “regime change”.
In his speech, Cabello warned that the Americans will face an unexpected response:"Let them feel that wherever they go, they're going to find us. A surprise will fall from the sky, a surprise they don't expect and will never be prepared for."
He also urged Venezuelans to "be prepared" to act,"whoever it may be, whatever their name is," and "wherever they come from," with the goal of "fulfilling the fundamental task" of protecting the country. He stressed:"Anyone who messes with Venezuela should know that they will pay dearly. Anything goes, except playing dumb."
The military exercises in which Cabello participated were developed within the “Independence Plan 200”, announced by Maduro this week, which contemplates the participation of the Armed Forces, combatant bodies and the Bolivarian National Militia in 284 battle fronts to guarantee the security, independence and peace of the country.
The regional context adds tension to these statements. The United States maintains eight missile-launched military ships and a nuclear-powered submarine near Venezuelan coasts, in addition to deploying ten F-35 fighter jets to an air base in Puerto Rico.
Washington has accused Maduro of leading the so-called Cartel de los Soles, described as a terrorist organization linked to drug trafficking, and has increased the reward to $50 million for information leading to the capture of the Chavista leader.
The Venezuelan government has repeatedly stated that military mobilization and exercises, such as Plan Independencia 200, seek to guarantee national sovereignty, the country's independence, and the security of its citizens against what it describes as external threats, primarily from the United States.
For its part, the Chavista dictatorship said this Saturday that a U.S. Navy destroyer boarded and detained for eight hours a Venezuelan fishing vessel with nine crew members in waters that Caracas considers part of its Exclusive Economic Zone. The incident, which occurred near Blanquilla Island, comes amid an escalation of military and political tensions between Venezuela and the United States, with Washington increasing its military presence in the Caribbean to combat drug trafficking.
According to the official version of the Chavista regime, the boarding occurred on Friday, when the US destroyer Jason Dunham (registration DDG-109), equipped with missiles and war weapons, intercepted a small tuna fishing boat sailing 48 nautical miles (88 kilometers) from La Blanquilla Island. Foreign Minister Yván Gil, in a statement broadcast on state television, said that eighteen armed US Navy personnel occupied the boat, prevented communication with the fishermen and hindered their authorized fishing activities.
However, the White House has not yet commented.
