The Venezuelan regime celebrated Military Aviation Day with an event marked by the absence of Nicolás Maduro
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The commemoration of the 105th anniversary of the Bolivarian Military Aviation once again exposed tensions within the Venezuelan military structure. The main event, held at the Libertador Air Base in Maracay, was led by the Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, while the dictator Nicolás Maduro avoided attending and chose to appear through a pre-recorded 22-minute video from a closed location.
The president's absence caused discontent among officers, who also criticized the markedly propagandistic tone of the event. According to two members of the force consulted, the most questioned aspect was the explicit apology for the attempted coup of November 27, 1992, a failed insurrection against democracy that Chavismo tries to reinterpret as a "heroic deed."
Ideologized speeches and a disconnected military leadership
Minister Padrino López, together with the Strategic Operational Commander and high-ranking officers, not only repeated the regime's usual narrative—"siege," "external threats," "revolutionary solve"—but also vindicated the military uprising of 27N. Brigadier General Hernán Miguel Acosta Figueroa highlighted the presence of 1,358 soldiers and celebrated the failed coup as a heroic act, in open contradiction to the democratic character of the Republic at that time.
Maduro evitó la ceremonia por los 105 años de la Aviación Militar y reapareció en un mensaje grabado
Officers present pointed out that, despite the aerial display, the attention of those on the presidium was more focused on their cell phones than on the ceremony. One of them described the event as "out of touch with reality," denouncing that the institution's internal problems were ignored, while insisting on a narrative that blames the United States—and in particular the administration of then-president Donald Trump—for all the country's ills.
Internal rejection and criticism over irregular promotions
The presence of the governor of Lara state, Luis Ramón Reyes Reyes, recently promoted to brigadier general despite being retired, also caused irritation among the military. The promotion was considered a political act and a sign of disrespect for the military career.
Maduro evitó la ceremonia por los 105 años de la Aviación Militar y reapareció en un mensaje grabado
An Armed Force marked by exhaustion
The commemoration highlighted the exhaustion within the Military Aviation and the growing disconnect between the Chavista leadership and the institution's real needs. Beyond the aerial show, internal discontent, the vindication of coup attempts, and the absence of Maduro deepen the perception of a weakened regime, sustained by propaganda and forced loyalties rather than institutional cohesion.
