(MENAFN) Venezuela has initiated a significant military exercise dubbed “Operation Independence 200,” announced Saturday by Interior, Justice and Peace Minister Diosdado Cabello. The large-scale drill was ordered by President Nicolas Maduro amid rising tensions in the region.

During a vehicle and equipment handover ceremony in Monagas state, Cabello revealed that over 1,500 military personnel and civilians are participating in the operation. The exercise’s primary goal is to protect Venezuela’s sovereignty and maintain peace in the face of what Cabello described as threats from “imperialism and its collaborators within the country.”

Though he did not directly name any individuals, Cabello sharply criticized opposition leaders for allegedly supporting US military activities in the Caribbean. “We are ready to confront various threats that hover over our homeland like the shadow of imperialism. We are always on the offensive, preparing for comprehensive defense within an active and long-term resistance strategy,” he stated.

Cabello also condemned opposition members as “traitors” and “unworthy sons of the nation,” accusing them of colluding with foreign powers.

According to national media, the military drill aims to reinforce the protection of key public institutions, ensure internal security, and boost the effectiveness of Venezuela’s air defense capabilities.

In a related announcement on social media, President Maduro confirmed the creation of new defense zones in the northeastern states of Anzoategui, Monagas, and Bolivar. He described these zones as a “vital corridor” stretching from the Caribbean Sea to the Orinoco River and down to the border with Brazil.

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