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Maduro Brandishes Bolívar’s Sword, Urges Venezuelans to Resist Alleged U.S. Aggression

At a 200th-anniversary rally in Caracas, President Nicolás Maduro donned military fatigues, brandished Simón Bolívar’s sword and urged Venezuelans to repel what he called U.S. aggression. He framed the gathering as a response to recent U.S. strikes on vessels suspected of carrying illicit drugs and the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford near Venezuelan waters. The dispute has included U.S. designations of criminal groups, a reward tied to Maduro, public accusations from Washington, and flight advisories that have prompted some carriers to suspend service.

01:41 AM, 11/27/2025Conflict
Maduro Brandishes Bolívar’s Sword, Urges Venezuelans to Resist Alleged U.S. Aggression

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appeared in military fatigues, raised Simón Bolívar’s sword and urged citizens to defend the country from what he described as U.S. aggression during a mass rally in Caracas marking the 200th anniversary of Venezuela’s independence.

Speaking to a large crowd, Maduro framed the event as a patriotic response in the spirit of Bolívar — the independence leader who fought Spanish rule — and appealed to both religion and nationalism as he vowed to protect the nation.

“We have to be capable of defending every inch of this blessed land from any sort of imperialist threat or aggression, wherever it comes from,” Maduro said while holding Bolívar’s unsheathed sword. “I swear before our Lord Jesus Christ that I will give my all for the victory of Venezuela.”

Context and escalating tensions

Maduro presented the rally as a response to recent U.S. actions in the region, including strikes on small vessels the U.S. says were carrying illicit drugs and the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to waters near Venezuela. Published reports say U.S. forces have conducted more than 20 aerial strikes on small boats in recent months, operations that U.S. officials say have disrupted suspected drug shipments.

U.S. authorities have also moved to punish criminal networks linked to Venezuelan officials: they have designated the alleged Cartel de los Soles and the gang known as Tren de Aragua as foreign terrorist organizations and offered a reward for information related to Maduro’s activities. U.S. officials have stated that intelligence operations in Venezuela have been authorized, and Washington has publicly accused Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking.

The standoff has drawn international attention: Iranian officials publicly criticized U.S. policy, voicing support for Caracas, while U.S. aviation regulators issued cautionary notices for flights in the region. Several international carriers temporarily suspended service to Venezuela, leaving some travelers stranded in Caracas.

Implications

The confrontation underscores deepening tensions between Caracas and Washington and raises concerns about regional stability, civil liberties in Venezuela, and the safety of international travel to the country. Maduro’s dramatic invocation of Bolívar and religious imagery was aimed at rallying domestic support, even as foreign pressure and sanctions increase.

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