The brainwashing of the FANB is ongoing, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López takes it personally. He recently warned the troops of the Bolivarian National Armed Force about the existence of a violent opposition they must remain vigilant against, asserting that the opposition’s work should be political and not confrontational.
As a political operator for Maduro’s regime within the FANB, the Defense Minister is actively trying to convince lower and mid-level officials of the importance of the “mock” elections called by the dictatorship for May 25, 2025. He emphasizes the critical role of the Armed Forces in this process.
Padrino López stresses to the troops the significance of meticulous supervision at each stage of the election planning, highlighting the need to eliminate discrimination, insisting on this old slogan from Hugo Chávez that brought significant political dividends.
He underscores the importance of Plan República, where supervision—more like surveillance—becomes the crucial factor for the event’s success, both in the days leading up to it and on election day itself.
Stay Alert
Padrino urges the troops to remain alert during the “electoral process”, which includes overseeing electoral materials, weaponry, personal appearance, knowledge of functions, service shifts, and the context in which these take place.
He reminds them of their task to protect and conserve electoral materials, maintain peace, and alerts them against the loss or theft of materials. He highlights security measures to be followed during the event, including border closures and flight suspensions, to ensure the success and peace of the process.
The key point Padrino López wants to emphasize is the existence of a violent political opposition, thus warning and conditioning the troops against it. Dissent, unacceptable to the regime, must be confronted; this is the subliminal message of his speech.
He points out a minority that resorts to violence and sabotage instead of democratic participation. He talks about the need for a constructive political opposition instead of the current one that engages in confrontation. “The job of a political opposition is to be political opposition, not to go to war or confront, but it remains political regardless,” he states.
The Borders
Padrino López takes on the brainwashing of the FANB personally.
Vladimir Padrino López expresses to the FANB troops the regime’s concerns regarding the security situation at the western border, specifically with Colombia.
He expresses unease over what he perceives as a pattern of incidents and allegations from this area, suggesting an effort to fabricate “false positives” to blame Venezuelan military personnel.
He then resorts to the old leftist tactic of accusing the alleged involvement of the CIA, FBI, and Southern Command in preparing complex situations designed to provoke. “Because to start fabricating false positives, the CIA and FBI are experts, and they are doing that, Southern Command is preparing complex situations to provoke us,” he warns.
This is what he denounces on the eastern border, alerting of risks with Guyana due to an attempt to present a false positive. “We denounce that they want to destroy an Exxon Mobil platform and blame us. It’s a very dangerous plan.”
Thus, he urges soldiers to maintain caution, consult, and authorize all actions, except for direct confrontations, meaning the “encounter combats.”
Padrino López asserts that despite tensions, there is a reaffirmation of the intention to reclaim territory, highlighting an unprecedented presence of Bolivarian Forces in the area, not only in defense but also in development. He emphasizes the importance of being alert against strategies intending to breach and seek an insertion point that could result in territorial loss.
Padrino López Frames Migration as External Aggression
Vladimir Padrino presents to the FANB troops the regime’s narrative that aims to contextualize Venezuela’s migratory and economic crisis as external aggression, orchestrated through blockades, sanctions, and geopolitical strategies.
He denounces alleged acts of persecution and mistreatment of Venezuelan migrants abroad, especially in the United States, while criticizing the response from international human rights organizations. He also highlights the regime’s efforts to “protect” and repatriate Venezuelans.
“They are being persecuted, practically whipped. It must be very tragic. I put myself in the shoes of an immigrant in the United States. It must be very fragile, very fragile. A supremacist could easily put them on a plane to send them to Guantánamo or a concentration camp in El Salvador, leaving behind everything they built,” he shared.
In this context, he conditions the FANB to defend sovereignty against international criticisms, trying to instill a posture of resistance and struggle for Venezuelans’ rights, both inside and outside the country.
Equating Political Dissent with Violence
The brainwashing that Vladimir Padrino López conducts among the troops is complete; he leaves no detail unchecked. Accordingly, he dedicates a chapter of his speech to disqualifying political dissent and framing it as violent.
Obviously, the political agent of the FANB seeks to validate the functional opposition that aligned with the regime and participates in the “elections” on May 25.
He dismisses the complaints made before international organizations advocating for respect for human rights in Venezuela. He criticizes foreign appeals to release political prisoners and describes true dissident political opposition as “criminals” and “political prisoners”, while illustrating the international situation as a “concentration camp” and thus calling on troops to adopt a confrontational tone.
“They resolve the message by saying to free political prisoners here. When we know that here, political prisoners are just criminals who broke the law, went against the Constitution, engaged in violence, contributed to destabilization, and attempted a coup,” he asserts.
Like in WWII
The extremes to which the Maduro regime is capable of going are immeasurable and unimaginable, which frames the comparison Padrino López makes by drawing parallels between the current situation in Venezuela and the military resistance during the siege of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) in World War II.
He referred to the importance of “inventing”—the example provided is evidence of his creativity—as crucial for survival and resistance, both civil and military. Padrino López criticized the historical neglect of pivotal battles the Soviet Union fought against the Nazis, such as those at Stalingrad and Kursk, despite their significance in reclaiming territory.
Military Promotions
Vladimir Padrino López informs the FANB troops that they are currently discussing upcoming military promotions, along with the army’s anniversary and commemorations.
He emphasizes the “rigorous” review process for promotions and recognitions, highlighting objectivity and fairness, describing the Armed Forces as an institution that is autocratic by nature but democratic in practice, promoting debate and diverse ideas.
Ignoring the reality of military families’ needs, Padrino underscores the constant care taken to ensure the well-being of personnel and their families, considering it as essential as fulfilling the mission.
Moreover, he praises the professionalism, ethics, and morals of current generals and admirals, contrasting them with previous generations. Finally, he highlights the importance of balancing mission fulfillment with the well-being of personnel and their families, urging officials to prioritize free time and attention to personal needs.
“Discrimination”
Padrino López resorts to Hugo Chávez’s old practice of accusing discrimination, even racial, which he inaccurately names—the “fourth republic.” “If I portray myself as white or blue blood, be very cautious with the apostles,” he states.
He assures that in the new FANB, inclusion is a primary characteristic and emphasizes his administration’s efforts toward eliminating discrimination. He therefore highlights the diversity among officers (career professionals, technical officers, and troops) and the need to guarantee equal opportunities and professional development for all.
He also emphasizes the educational and formative role of military leaders, in contrast to a culture of “cutting off heads.” He mentions issues of discrimination, including potential racial implications.