Venezuela is establishing defense commands to work on territorial protection and ensure internal cohesion in the event of conflict

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Integrated Defense Commands will be the new line of the Venezuelan defense system. The structure was set out in the nation’s Comprehensive Defense Command Law, which was approved by a qualified majority in the National Assembly – which is controlled by Chavista – on Tuesday and issued by Maduro hours later. The regional structures will operate, according to the text approved by the legislature, in the planning, coordination and implementation phases of strategic lines of protection against external and internal attacks, part of an attempt to unify Venezuelan public institutions, including the Bolivarian National Armed Forces and the so-called Popular Power.

Recruits from the new commands will receive training from the armed forces, and will be attached to the Military Strategic Operations Command. Among the tasks assigned to the new authority, according to the legal text, is to support military operations (when necessary), ensure the continuity of productive activities and public services throughout the national territory, and collect and analyze strategic information, in order to identify potential threats to national security.

– We approve a basic law that defines a new way of dealing with the deployment, compliance with orders, movement of forces and, above all, the relationship between the people and the armed forces – stated the President of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, during the law approval session, arguing that the new structure follows the military doctrine inherited from former President Hugo Chávez.

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Despite the regionalization of the defense system, the main goal of this measure appears to be to strengthen internal cohesion in the face of possible confrontation scenarios, in addition to enhancing defense capacity. The law also ensures that control of the process remains in Maduro’s hands. The President is responsible for determining the formation of bodies, supervising and monitoring them “at various regional levels.” It will also be the President who will appoint the General Coordinator of the Commands. The main objective of this measure is to strengthen the defensive capacity and cohesion of Venezuelan forces in the face of possible confrontation scenarios.

– We act within our law, we are on our land, and nothing or no one should try to disturb the peace and tranquility of this land and this people, which is a peaceful people, but has proven throughout history that it is capable of doing anything – Maduro declared during an event broadcast by the state broadcaster VTV on Tuesday. – Peace, peace, peace, we want peace. We will be as prepared as possible in the face of maximum pressure.

For the direct management of the leadership, five committees will be established: the Bolivarian National Committee, the Economic, Production and Services Committee, the People’s Social Committee, the Internal Regulations Committee, and the Mobilization and Requests Committee. The law stipulates that each administrative body shall have an operations room to collect, analyze and interpret strategic information generated by activities carried out by committees operating in its territorial jurisdiction, in order to “analyze and interpret strategic information” within its territorial jurisdiction – a measure that could, in practical terms, further close the siege to any sign of opposition to the government.