STORY: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signed into law on Tuesday (November 11) a new national defense framework, ordering the immediate activation of "integral defense commands" to unify civilian and military forces, according to state television.

Maduro, in a broadcast address, said the law institutionalizes a network of state and military bodies to respond to threats, and called for readiness "even for armed struggle" to defend Venezuela's sovereignty.

The president also announced the launch of a nationwide military-police exercise, "Independence Forces Deployment 2025," to test real-time deployment of weapons and systems across all regions.

According to Maduro, the law and exercise are part of Venezuela's "Bolivarian doctrine" of defense and are intended to safeguard peace, democracy, and the country's political model. The moves come amid ongoing political and economic pressures from the United States, with Maduro asserting that Venezuela "has truth and justice on its side" and is prepared to defend its sovereignty against any disturbance.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO SIGNING DEFENSE LAW / SECURITY DEPLOYMENT / SOUNDBITE FROM MADURO

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: MIRANDA, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 11, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all) (NIGHT SHOT)

1. SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE

2. VARIOUS OF SECURITY DEPLOYMENT IN MIRANDA STATE

3. MILITARY OFFICERS DEPLOYING (SHOT ACCELERATED AT SOURCE)

CARACAS, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 11, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING:

[SOUNDBITE CONTINUES OVER SHOTS 5 AND 6, OF ATTENDEES LISTENING, VARIOUS SHOTS OF MADURO SIGNING LAW AND VARIOUS SHOTS OF MADURO SHOWING SIGNED LAW]

"As of this moment, by signing this law, all integral defense commands that bring together all public institutions of the Venezuelan state, the military institution, and all popular power must be activated at dawn today. So, by signing, the order must be activated for the integral defense commands to be established, structured, and put to work to be prepared. If we, as a republic, as a people, must go to armed struggle to defend this sacred heritage of the liberators, we must be ready to win, to triumph through the path of patriotism and courage. So, I proceed to sign and execute the law for the creation of national integral defense commands. Signed, approved, and ratified today, Tuesday, November 11, 2025. And I say, with the whole country: peace, peace, peace, we want peace, we will have it. Facing maximum pressure, maximum preparation. Execute this law immediately."

5. ATTENDEES LISTENING

6. VARIOUS OF MADURO SIGNING LAW

7. VARIOUS OF MADURO SHOWING SIGNED LAW

MIRANDA, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 11, 2025) (VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

8. SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILE

9. VARIOUS OF ARMED VEHICLES DEPLOYMENT IN MIRANDA STATE