Venezuela launches defense drills amid US military threat

CARACAS -- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced Saturday the launch of military drills codenamed the "Great Corridor of the Venezuelan Plain" as part of the "Independence 200" operation to strengthen national defense amid perceived US military threats.

The exercises, which started early Saturday and cover the central states of Barinas, Portuguesa, Cojedes and Guarico, are part of a nationwide mobilization aimed at enhancing the country's preparedness against potential external attacks.

"All the integral defense zones across the country are now active and operational," Maduro said in a message posted on social media. "We have completed all the zones with 27 fundamental defense tasks."

The president highlighted coordination among civilian, police and military sectors, calling it "a perfect and organized fusion" to safeguard national sovereignty and internal stability.

"We want to keep winning along the path of peace," Maduro said, referring to what he called the US military buildup in the Caribbean near Venezuelan waters.

He added that the drills are designed to achieve "the optimal level of readiness" among national defense forces through broad civic participation and territorial coordination.