Venezuela: What does the dismissal of the Minister of Defense mean?

This article was originally published on March 18 in La Izquierda Diario, a member of the international network of newspapers that includes Révolution Permanente.

On Wednesday, March 18, Delcy Rodriguez, interim president of Venezuela, dismissed several members of her government, including the most important one, Vladimir Padrino López, who served as the Minister of Defense for eleven years, as well as the Ministers of Labor, Transportation, and Higher Education. In the previous weeks, she had already made other changes within the ministries and vice-ministries. However, the case of General Vladimir Padrino López held particular significance.

This is not just a bureaucratic reshuffle at the top of the military hierarchy, but a move that reflects a structural crisis in the context opened by the U.S. military intervention on January 3. The ongoing changes indicate a reconfiguration of power, centered around Delcy Rodríguez and in service of the neocolonial regime imposed by imperialism.

The dismissal of Padrino López, one of the oldest and most stable pillars of chavismo, is part of this new reconfiguration amid the new political situation in Venezuela. For over a decade, Padrino López has been more than just a Minister of Defense. Since his appointment in 2014, he became the essential guarantor of the cohesion of the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) and, by extension, the survival of chavismo in power throughout this period of great political agitation. He also ensured the loyalty of senior officers, making him the military guarantor of order.

It was Padrino López, alongside Maduro, who developed the doctrine of “civil-military union” as a defensive shield that, in practice, increasingly militarized national politics and prevented coup attempts in recent years. After the repression of post-electoral fraud protests in 2024, Maduro announced the “perfect civil-military-police union,” with Padrino López playing a key role once again.

The dismissal of Padrino López could pave the way for a restructuring of the armed forces under external oversight, as well as other changes within the top military command structure and the dismissal of generals. Padrino López may also be relieved of his duties as Chief General and Commander-in-Chief of the FANB. His removal could be linked to opaque negotiations happening behind the scenes, deciding the fate of Venezuela’s strategic resources under the influence of the United States and with the complicity of Delcy Rodríguez.

– Context: The article discusses the political context in Venezuela following the dismissal of senior government officials, including Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino López. – Fact Check: Verify the sources and claims made in the article to ensure accuracy and reliability of information.