The Armed Forces of Venezuela have begun a new phase of large-scale exercises, the Bolivarian Shield. This order was given by President Nicolas Maduro. During the maneuvers, army units plan to explore the coast of the republic. It is reported by the Ministry of Defense of Venezuela.

“Our Commander-in-Chief ordered the Bolivarian Shield to conduct a new phase of military exercises in the next few hours and throughout the country, with particular attention to be paid to the coastal zone of the country. Careful monitoring will be carried out in the air, at sea and on land to identify any other elements or secret cells that want to enter the country to destabilize the world, ”the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic says.

The Bolivarian Shield started after the Venezuelan authorities reported an attempt by representatives of illegal armed groups (IAFs) to infiltrate the republic. The incident occurred on May 3. According to representatives of Caracas, gunmen were planning to land on the coast of the republic near the port city of La Guaira, 30 km from Caracas, but met with resistance from the Venezuelan armed forces. As a result of the clash, eight violators of the state border were killed, two were detained, among them, according to the Venezuelan leadership, an agent of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

It was also reported that an arsenal was discovered at the scene of the incident, part of which was used in an attempted coup on April 30, 2019, when a small group of servicemen sided with opposition leader Juan Guaido.

"Special training camps"

Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol qualified the incident on May 3 as a naval invasion of militants from Colombia into the north of the country. In turn, the head of the Socialist Party, Diosdado Cabello, referring to the materials of the interrogation of the detainees, said that the saboteurs acted on orders from the United States and Colombia to overthrow Maduro.

Venezuelan Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino Lopez called the attempt to invade the illegal armed groups "a clear aggression prepared by North American imperialism in Colombian territory." According to the agency, the militants intended to destabilize the situation inside the republic.

Maduro himself said that on May 3, "an attempt was made to invade the sea of ​​mercenaries and terrorists trained in Colombia with the funding and support of the US and Colombian governments," the purpose of which was to kill the Venezuelan leader.

  • The representative of one of the Colombian illegal armed groups
  • Reuters
  • © John Vizcaino

Currently, the Venezuelan Armed Forces are in a state of full combat readiness and continue to patrol the coastal area where saboteurs intended to land.

The Colombian Foreign Ministry rejected all allegations by the Venezuelan authorities. In Bogota, they believe that with statements about aggression, Caracas expects to divert attention from the country's internal problems. To date, the United States has not commented on the incident off the coast of Venezuela and the alleged detention of its agent against drugs.

In an interview with RIA Novosti, the Russian ambassador to Caracas, Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov, said that a developed network of militant training camps operates along the perimeter of Venezuelan borders. Part of the “recruits” are former Venezuelan military personnel. 

“It is well known, and it was repeatedly reported by various media that in the areas bordering Venezuela there are special training militarized camps where militants are trained, including former Venezuelan military servicemen - deserters who gave in for the promised ten thousand dollars,” Melik-Bagdasarov said .

The diplomat is convinced that training camps in Colombia exist with the support of the United States. According to Melik-Bagdasarov, on May 3, near Maracas, mercenaries who had undergone combat training in a neighboring country were neutralized.

As the Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly said, the policy of the United States is aimed at overthrowing the legitimate government of Venezuela. Official Washington recognizes Juan Guaido as the head of state, despite the fact that he does not have real powers and was not elected during the vote. 

The United States does not deny its role in destabilizing the situation in Venezuela. So, in a January interview with Colombian Caracol TV, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the goal of the American mission is to “get Maduro to leave.” After his resignation, Washington plans to hold a “free and fair" presidential election.

Commenting on the words of Pompeo, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that "the US has never abandoned the tactics of interfering in the affairs of independent states and the policy of regime change." Venezuela, in her opinion, was no exception. 

“Through soft power or through provocations and coups d'etat - this is decided in each case in different ways. And the “democracy” and “democratic structure” of states have been used by the USA for decades as an instrument for shaping Washington’s internal political situation in these countries, ”Zakharova wrote in her Facebook.

Tension

The authorities of Venezuela consider the invasion of illegal armed groups as one of the main threats to national security. By order of Maduro, the republic’s security forces should be prepared to repel sabotage groups from Colombia and the United States. In this regard, sudden anti-terrorism exercises are held in the country.

In an interview with RT, political scientist, political expert of the United States and Latin America Alexei Chernyaev said that the most urgent for Venezuela are threats "in the form of sabotage and partisan activity."

“Militarily, the Venezuelan Armed Forces are superior to the capabilities of the militants. In my opinion, the threat from Colombia and the militants is limited. Therefore, it is unlikely that a sabotage group can commit a coup. Most likely, the events of May 3 are an element of constant tension, ”says Chernyaev.

  • Venezuelan army soldier
  • © mindefensa.gob.ve

According to the expert, the United States thus seeks to support its protégé, Juan Guaido, demonstrating that the struggle for the overthrow of the "illegal president" Maduro still does not stop.

A similar point of view is shared by the Deputy Head of the Center for the USA, Canada and Latin America RISI, Advisor to the President of the Russian Public Political Center Dmitry Burykh. In a conversation with RT, he emphasized that Washington views Colombia as one of the key bridgeheads for exerting military and political pressure on Maduro.

The expert predicts that in the near future for Venezuela the threat of a variety of sabotage and provocative actions will remain. The analyst excludes the option of a major armed conflict. According to Burykh, the United States was considering the possibility of implementing such a scenario, but did not find support from the countries of the region.

“In the case of Venezuela, the Americans have relied on the patronage of illegal armed groups in Colombia. The United States has very rich experience in such activities, including in Latin America. The danger of an invasion of Venezuela by such groups will not leave the agenda, given that the United States is not going to abandon its policy of overthrowing the legitimate government of Nicolas Maduro, ”stated Burykh.