Aug 22, 2025
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro Moros delivered a defiant speech Friday during the “Act in Defense of Sovereignty and Peace of Venezuela, Latin America and the Caribbean,” held in the Elliptical Hall of the Federal Legislative Palace in Caracas. Addressing lawmakers, military leaders, and civil society representatives, Maduro declared Venezuela “untouchable,” asserting that “nothing and no one will touch the homeland.”
The event, framed as a national reaffirmation of Venezuela’s independence and democratic values, comes amid escalating tensions with the United States, which recently deployed naval forces near Venezuelan waters. Maduro thanked the National Assembly for convening what he called “a special act of unity and reunion for the defense of sacred rights: self-determination, full sovereignty, and the enjoyment of peace.”
Referencing the legacy of Bolívar and other independence leaders, Maduro emphasized that Venezuela’s true wealth lies not in its oil, gold, or gas, but in its “moral, spiritual, and ethical heritage.” He called on all Venezuelans to set aside political differences, declaring, “This is not a time for colors or divisions. One flag shelters us all: yellow, blue, and red.”
The president also expressed gratitude for international support, particularly from Russia, China, Iran, and ALBA-TCP member states, which have condemned U.S. threats and reaffirmed the 2014 declaration of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace. “Whoever threatens one country in Latin America threatens them all,” Maduro warned, urging regional unity against foreign aggression.
He reiterated that international law prohibits both the use and threat of force against sovereign states, and accused Washington of attempting to fabricate a military conflict in South America. The recent deployment of U.S. warships and renewed accusations linking Venezuelan officials to drug trafficking are seen by Caracas as part of a broader psychological warfare campaign led by former President Donald Trump.
Maduro’s remarks were delivered before members of the National Assembly, the Executive Cabinet, the High Command of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), and leaders of the ruling coalition, the Great Patriotic Pole. He called on all Venezuelans to choose peace, life, and sovereignty, declaring that the country must speak “with one voice” in defense of its independence.
The speech follows Venezuela’s mobilization of over four million militia members in response to U.S. military movements in the Caribbean Sea. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López stated that the militia is prepared to defend “every inch” of national territory.
Maduro’s message aligns with statements made earlier this week at the ALBA-TCP summit, where he called on Latin American nations and social movements to unite in defense of Venezuela’s right to peace and self-determination. The summit concluded with a joint condemnation of U.S. “imperialist and destabilizing policies.”
As diplomatic tensions rise, Venezuela continues to position itself as a defender of regional sovereignty and multilateralism, invoking the principles of the UN Charter and the CELAC Zone of Peace declaration. Whether this rhetoric will translate into broader regional action remains to be seen, but Caracas is making clear that it will not back down.
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