Venezuela has activated its "Independence 200" defense plan, conducting large-scale military exercises across the country. The drills involve the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, police, and civilian militias, and are focused on ensuring territorial sovereignty and internal defense. President Nicolás Maduro ordered the activation of multiple internal defense zones, including strategic coastal and border regions, in response to escalating U.S. military presence near Venezuelan waters. The operations, which began on September 11, 2025, are framed as "permanent active resistance" to potential external aggression.