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The ruler of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, asserted on Tuesday that the country is going through a "decisive juncture for its existence" and warned that it is "forbidden to fail" in the defense of the nation against the alleged threats from the United States.
According to the agency EFE, the president led an event at Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas, accompanied by his military leadership and high-ranking officials, including Diosdado Cabello, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López.
"If the homeland calls, the homeland will have our lives, if necessary," stated Maduro before military personnel and supporters, during a march where Chavismo commemorated the bicentennial of the so-called Sword of Peru, a symbol of the liberator Simón Bolívar.
The leader urged the Armed Forces, the police, and civilians to "multiply by ten" their efforts to defend "every inch of the territory from any imperialist aggression," and assured that "there are no excuses for anyone."
The mobilization took place one day after the U.S. State Department confirmed the designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, which the Trump administration links to Maduro and high-ranking officials in the Venezuelan military, an accusation that Caracas has labeled as a “Washington invention.”
The event also coincided with the suspension of about thirty international flights from Caracas, following a warning from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding a "potentially dangerous" situation in the region.
Dressed in military uniform and holding Bolívar's golden sword, Maduro vowed to "give all his effort for the victory of Venezuela against the aggressions of imperialism."
"I receive her 200 years later with her liberating energy," said the leader as he unsheathed the weapon before the crowd gathered at Paseo Los Próceres, where Chavismo once again used Bolívar's figure as a political emblem amid the prolonged crisis in the country.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated on Tuesday that he does not rule out a possible dialogue with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, despite his administration accusing him of leading a terrorist organization.
According to a report by the agency EFE, the president stated aboard the presidential plane that “I could talk to him, we’ll see,” when asked by reporters about the reasons for engaging in dialogue with Maduro.
Trump added that "he is the leader" and that "we can save lives," although he warned that things can be done 'the easy way or the hard way'.
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