Amid a climate of secrecy and questions regarding meritocracy within the Armed Forces, Nicolás Maduro’s regime has issued a series of resolutions confirming the promotion of high-ranking military officials across various branches of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB).
Official documents from the Ministry of People’s Power for Defense, signed by Minister Vladimir Padrino López, record the following promotions:
Luis Adolfo Rosales Molina is promoted to Major General in the effective command category of the Bolivarian National Guard, effective July 5, 2025.
Admiral Carlos David Luque Solórzano is promoted to the effective rank of Commander, also effective from July 5, 2025.
Pablo Ernesto Lizano Colmenter advances to the rank of Division General in the Bolivarian Army, with the same effective date.
All these resolutions cite articles from the Organic Law of Public Administration and presidential decrees as legal support. However, the opacity surrounding the evaluation criteria and concerns regarding political loyalty as a determining factor in military careers have raised suspicions.
In the Venezuelan context, these promotions are not mere administrative tasks; they represent key movements in the regime’s power structure, reinforcing its control over security forces. The coincidence of dates and the discretion in publicly announcing these appointments increase questions about the real motivations behind these designations.