Caracas: Saturday, January 3rd: The situation in Venezuela is certainly not easy; we are under attack. And this is a higher stage of that war. The Venezuelan government was warned and prepared for this—that is, there was an awareness that this would happen at some point. What was not known, obviously, was when the U.S. government would act.

What is certain is that there is a chronology of events:

1. The attack began in the early morning hours, Saturday, starting at 2:00 a.m.
2. The bombings were carried out for approximately half an hour.
3. Immediately afterward, aircraft from our air force were activated, taking control of the airspace.
4. At the same time, the Venezuelan government began taking action—administrative actions related to the country’s diplomatic network.
5. A decree then appeared, presumed to have been issued by the constitutional president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, declaring a state of external emergency.
6. A call was made to move into the war phase, the armed phase, and the people were called into the streets.
7. Defense Minister Padrino López then appeared, explaining, among other things, how the bombing occurred and stated: “In strict compliance with the orders issued by the President of the Republic, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, all mechanisms of the nation’s comprehensive defense continue to be activated, and we must move forward.”

Then Donald Trump appeared publicly, taking responsibility for the bombings and stated that a large-scale attack had been carried out and that President Nicolás Maduro and the First Lady, Cilia Flores, had been captured.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez immediately addressed the situation and initially demanded proof of life from President Donald Trump—that is, “If you are saying that you captured him, show proof that he is alive.”

At the same time, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello reported that an assessment was already under way to determine the extent of the damage, the number of injured, and to quantify the loss of life—everything that a bombing entails. He stated: “We are in the streets and we will remain in the streets. These rats dared to attack, and they will regret it.”

While Donald Trump is taking responsibility for the attacks and that he captured the president, our government is in control throughout the territory.

Trump said in his press conference on Saturday that the U.S. was going to “run Venezuela until such time as a proper and judicious transition can take place.”

Indeed, the Venezuelan government has not fallen. Delcy Rodríguez, who was sworn in as interim President by the Supreme Court, said on Venezuelan state TV that the U.S. actions constituted an attempt at regime change in an effort to capture the country’s oil and natural resources and that Venezuelans stand ready to defend those resources.

In her speech, Rodríguez further:

1. Called for the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
2. Said that, if anything were to happen to President Nicolás Maduro, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces and the national power of Venezuela would be fully activated to safeguard the country’s independence.
3. Highlighted the expressions of support for Venezuela from the international community,^[1] as well as popular mobilizations in defense of sovereignty and national integrity.
4. Called on the Venezuelan people to remain calm and face the difficulties with popular unity.

As all of this unfolds, our people must continue moving forward, carrying out the work they have traditionally and historically done—being present in the various spaces where they belong, countering attempts to generate widespread fear and instability across the territory, contributing to order and control in the areas where political and civil life take place, and remaining united around the leadership of the Bolivarian Revolution, President Nicolás Maduro, the political-military command, governors, mayors, and other leaders, feeling historically called upon to defend and protect our people.

We will continue living through this process and, as we do, each person must fulfill their historical duty, making ourselves increasingly worthy of being part of this great anti-imperialist struggle, and thus earning the merits to celebrate the victories that we will surely continue building for the future.

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1. 
   

   Cuba and Russia were among the countries to condemn the Trump administration’s illegal coup attempt and kidnapping of Maduro. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced “a criminal attack” by the United States and called for “urgent reaction” from the world. Gerardo Fernández Noroña, the former president of Mexico’s Senate, said that Donald Trump was after Venezuela’s large oil deposits, while Mexican Claudia Sheinbaum stated that “Mexico makes an urgent call to respect international law, as well as the principles and purposes of the U.N. Charter, and to cease any act of aggression against the Venezuelan government and people.” President Gustavo Petro of Colombia wrote on X that he “rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America.” Brazilian leader Lula de Silva said that the U.S. invasion of Venezuela “recalls the worst moments of interference in the politics” of the region, adding that “the bombings on Venezuelan territory and the capture of its president unacceptably cross a line. These acts represent a grave affront to Venezuela’s sovereignty and are yet another extremely dangerous precedent for the entire international community.” ↑

   
   

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