STORY: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declared on Thursday (November 27) that his country stands ready to defend itself against foreign threats, as military jets and helicopters performed aerial displays during the 105th anniversary of Venezuelan military aviation.

Speaking in a speech televised on the state channel, Maduro said "there is no threat or aggression that frightens our people or takes us by surprise," adding that Venezuelans have prepared themselves "with imperturbable serenity" to defend their homeland.

The remarks come as tensions between Venezuela and the United States have intensified in recent months.

During the military ceremony, F-16 Fighting Falcons flew overhead while jets emitted yellow, blue, and red smoke—the colors of Venezuela's flag. Soldiers deployed from helicopters, and parachutists jumped from aircraft as anti-aircraft systems were displayed.

The U.S. has ramped up operations in the Caribbean in recent months, including strikes against alleged drug-trafficking vessels which have killed dozens. The Trump administration has accused Maduro of links to drug trafficking and criminal groups, allegations the Venezuelan leader denies.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: AIRCRAFT AND MILITARY ARTILLERY PARADE DURING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE VENEZUELAN MILITARY AVIATION / SOUNDBITES FROM VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO

SHOWS: MARACAY, ARAGUA, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 27, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (WITH SPANISH NARRATION)

1. VARIOUS OF MILITARY JETS EMITTING WHITE SMOKE FOR AIR DISPLAY

2. VARIOUS OF MILITARY JETS EMITTING YELLOW, BLUE AND RED SMOKE FOR AIR DISPLAY

3. HELICOPTERS FLYING

4. F-16 FIGHTING FALCON FLYING

5. SOLDIERS NEXT TO MILITARY ARTILLERY

6. F-16 FIGHTING FALCON FLYING

UNKNOWN LOCATION, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 27, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

7. VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, GIVING SPEECH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELA'S PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAYS VARIOUS OF MADURO SPEAKING):

"Today, we say that in Venezuela, there is no threat or aggression that frightens our people or takes us by surprise. Our people have prepared themselves with imperturbable serenity to defend their homeland, their soil, their seas, their sky, their soul, and their history with Bolivar at the forefront."

MARACAY, ARAGUA, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 27, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (WITH SPANISH NARRATION)

9. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS DURING EXHIBITION

10. HELICOPTER FLYING

11. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS DESCENDING FROM HELICOPTER WITH ROPE

UNKNOWN LOCATION, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 27, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELA'S PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAYS VARIOUS OF MADURO SPEAKING):

"For 17 weeks, foreign and imperialist forces have been continuously threatening to disrupt the peace of the Caribbean Sea, South America, and Venezuela under false and extravagant arguments that no one believes, neither in US public opinion, nor in world public opinion, and even less so in the powerful Venezuelan public opinion."

MARACAY, ARAGUA, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 27, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (WITH SPANISH NARRATION)

13. ANTI-AIRCRAFT SYSTEM

14. VARIOUS OF PARACHUTISTS JUMPING FROM AIRCRAFT AND DEPLOYING PARACHUTES

UNKNOWN LOCATION, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 27, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

15. MADURO, GIVING SPEECH

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELA'S PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAYS VARIOUS OF MADURO SPEAKING):

"Alert, ready, and willing to defend our rights as a nation, as a free and sovereign homeland. I know you will never fail Venezuela, and I know Venezuela is counting on you. Suppose history demands it, and we declare ourselves a republic in arms once again. In that case, history will see us rise up with the sacred banner of Miranda (Francisco de Miranda, hero of Venezuelan independence), Bolivar (Simon Bolivar), the yellow, blue, red, and eight radiant and victorious stars. We will have only one destiny: the victory of our dignity, the victory of our history."

MARACAY, ARAGUA, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 27, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (WITH SPANISH NARRATION)

17. TUCANO AT-27 AIRCRAFT

18. TUCANO AT-27 AIRCRAFT FLYING

19. VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS FROM ARMY FORCE MARCHING