Acting President Delcy Rodríguez ordered 1,215 newly commissioned officers to assist earthquake recovery efforts in La Guaira.
Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez ordered the immediate deployment of 1,215 newly commissioned military officers to the earthquake-affected state of La Guaira during a joint graduation ceremony held Saturday at the Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela (UMBV).
RELATED: Venezuela Commemorates 215 Years of Independence
The ceremony, held at the Patio de Honor of the Military Academies in Fuerte Tiuna, marked the 215th anniversary of the signing of Venezuela’s 1811 Declaration of Independence. The graduating class was officially named Venezuela Reborn (Venezuela Renace, in Spanish).
Addressing the new officers, Delcy Rodríguez linked the country’s reconstruction efforts to the aftermath of the June 24 double earthquake and called for national unity while warning against what she described as attempts to exploit the disaster for political purposes.
“Just as in 1812, when anti-patriotic forces sought to use the earthquake against the young Republic born in 1811, today there are also attempts to attack Venezuela’s institutions. There can be no room for any internal or external conspiracy, no matter where it comes from… There will be no social uprising here; what exists is profound social solidarity.”
Más de 1.200 oficiales de la Universidad Militar Bolivariana de Venezuela se graduaron en el 215° aniversario de la firma del Acta de Independencia, en una ceremonia encabezada por la presidenta encargada, Delcy Rodríguez quien inició el acto con un minuto de silencio por las… pic.twitter.com/wFNLUjxmhi
— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) July 6, 2026
Text Reads: More than 1,200 officers from the Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela graduated on the 215th anniversary of the signing of the Act of Independence, in a ceremony led by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who began the event with a minute of silence for the victims of the double earthquake and awarded the Hero of Venezuela distinction to local rescuers, members of Civil Protection, and international brigades for their work following the tragedy. From Fuerte Tiuna, the leader formalized the promotion of the graduates to the ranks of lieutenants and lieutenant commanders, dismissed scenarios of destabilization, and assured that a deep social solidarity prevails amid the emergency.
She said Venezuela entered 2026 facing what she described as external aggression before being struck by the recent earthquakes.
“We began this year with an external armed aggression… on January 3, 2026, and we already knew that something had been deeply broken in Venezuelan society and that we needed to find a path to build a new society. Then nature put that new human being to the test with the double earthquake of June 24.”
Delcy Rodríguez said the country should build a new republic grounded in cooperation, friendship and solidarity.
“A republic that communicates with the world as an equal… that speaks to humanity about the values of cooperation, friendship and solidarity… Let us build this new Republic, leaving behind the miserable, the heartless, those who hate, the intolerant, those who seek to harm our people.”
As part of the government’s response to the emergency, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez instructed the Ministry of Defense to establish the “Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho Antonio José de Sucre” Special Emergency Task Unit, to be commanded by Brigadier General Pavón Castellanos and tasked with responding to natural disasters.
She also highlighted the role of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) in the affected areas of La Guaira and thanked national rescue teams, Civil Protection volunteers and international brigades that received the Hero of Venezuela decoration. She announced that the country’s entire civil prevention system would also receive formal recognition in the coming hours.
The ceremony began with a minute of silence for those who lost their lives in the recent natural disaster. It was attended by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez, Sectoral Vice President for Policy, Citizen Security and Peace Diosdado Cabello, Defense Minister G/J Gustavo González López, Strategic Operational Commander Major General Rafael Prieto Martínez, and members of the military high command and the Council of Vice Presidents.
Text Reads: In a message filled with deep patriotism and humanity, Commander-in-Chief and Acting President Delcy Rodríguez assumed full responsibility for the military deployment in the areas affected by the earthquakes: “I gave the order and I take responsibility for our Bolivarian National Armed Forces, because when I took the oath I said: I take the baton of command and I hand it over to the Venezuelan people, so that it goes where the people need it most.”
The 1,215 graduates received the ranks of Lieutenant and Corvette Lieutenant in command, technical and troop categories. During the ceremony, they swore to uphold the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, comply with military laws and regulations, and work toward “a sovereign, just and supportive Venezuela… leaving our people a better world of social justice and absolute happiness, even at the cost of their lives if necessary.”
After taking the oath, the officers answered in unison, “Amen,” before participating in the military parade.
Referring to the anniversary of independence, Delcy Rodríguez said the signing of the 1811 declaration marked Venezuela’s break with colonial rule.
“Two hundred and fifteen years ago, Venezuela signed the Act of Independence to break the chains of colonialism that oppressed our peace. That was the birth of the First Republic… On that day we declared with dignity and conviction: ‘We are a Republic; we are not a colony.'”
She also noted that many of the declaration’s signatories were close in age to the graduating officers and said this class completed its military education under exceptional circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic while supporting communities across the country.
“You began your studies during a pandemic. You were there serving the Venezuelan people, accompanying them through a time of suffering. This is a class forged alongside our people and one that knows what it means to stand with those most in need.”
Closing the ceremony, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez ordered the newly commissioned officers to report immediately to disaster-response operations in La Guaira.
“I order every lieutenant and corvette lieutenant graduating today to deploy to the disaster zone in La Guaira… Go to the temporary camps, go to the infrastructure sites, go to the health centers to provide support. If Venezuela calls us, let the youth be the first to answer.”
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