Nicolás Maduro led the celebration of the “courage, discipline and historical strength” of the Air Force that accumulates more than a century at the service of the country’s defense. Photo: Presidential Press.
Guacamaya, November 27, 2025. In the framework of the 105th anniversary of the Bolivarian Military Aviation, President Nicolás Maduro affirmed that he has broad popular support to defend the nation from any threat of military aggression. At the ceremony held at the “El Libertador” Air Base in Aragua, the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López and the Commander of the Air Force, Lenin Ramirez, showed firm support for the president.
“82% of Venezuelan citizens are willing to defend their Homeland with weapons in their hands,” said the head of state. He also stressed that 94% of Venezuelans reject threats of military aggression. “It is not statistics; For us it is a historic command to defend the homeland and guarantee victory, always the victory of independence,” he stressed.
Despite this assertion, the origin of these figures is unknown, since Maduro did not mention statistical studies to support it. It is presumed that they were taken from an opinion poll by Hinterlaces last October, but the credibility of this firm has been questioned due to its apparent link with government interests.
In addition, if the official results of the recent presidential elections in 2024 are taken into account, Maduro obtained around 46% of the votes, in a process also pointed out by the opposition and part of the International Community for altering results. This situation makes it difficult to believe that 82% defend the current administration with weapons and even less that the government grants them them.
In addition to the commemoration of the air force, the government also celebrated 33 years of the military rebellion of November 27, 1992, a failed coup attempt led by a group of aviators against Carlos Andrés Pérez. In fact, by presidential decree of the late President Hugo Chávez in 2009, this date was precisely chosen to celebrate the anniversary of Military Aviation.
Military advances and warning to Washington over the Caribbean
The Minister of Defense, G/J Vladimir Padrino López, stressed that this date is a symbol of “anti-imperialist rebellion,” and questioned that Caribbean countries support the U.S. deployment off the Venezuelan coast. “We regret that the nations of the Caribbean lend themselves to militarize and attack countries in the same region, contrary to popular sentiment,” he said.
In turn, the general commander of the Bolivarian Military Aviation, M/G Lenin Ramirez, highlighted the achievements made by this component, as part of the integration of a solid territorial defense system. “During 2025, 24 aircraft that have illegally broken into airspace have been immobilized and disabled, which reflects the high performance of aviation,” he said.
On the other hand, Ramirez urged the U.S. government to avoid actions that alter the stability of Venezuela and South America, alluding to the military deployment in the Caribbean Sea. The air force commander also reported on important advances in the recovery and optimization of national aircraft and components.
The air fortress in the midst of controversies
At the event, decorations were also awarded to the Military Aviation for its service and dedication. The commemoration included a parade of land and air maneuvers as a sign of the commitment of the Military Aviation to the defense of Venezuelan sovereignty in a context of both external and internal challenges.
The celebration not only reinforced symbols of resistance and patriotism, but also fueled debate about the veracity of real popular support for the government and its willingness to arm the population. While senior military commanders expressed a message of strength and national unity, the statements are the subject of controversy and skepticism in the country’s political and social spheres.
