"Venezuela’s Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López has warned that the armed forces will respond to any aircraft linked to drug trafficking, speaking during a visit to a military installation in Caracas on Tuesday. During the visit, Padrino Lopez highlighted the destruction of eight aircraft allegedly associated with drug trafficking along Venezuela’s borders with Brazil and Colombia. The operation was carried out by the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) on Monday. “Every aircraft associated with drug trafficking will receive a response from the Bolivarian National Armed Force, because this airspace and this territory are defended and respected,” he said. Lopez also accused the United States of promoting what he described as hostile rhetoric towards Venezuela, citing remarks by US President Donald Trump in which he claimed the country’s natural resources belong to the United States. He said such statements had failed to weaken the country, arguing that Venezuela had instead become more unified. “While imperialism wanted to divide us, demoralise us and bury us in the mud of betrayal, the opposite happened. We have responded with great unity and cohesion,” he said. The defence minister further rejected US allegations of links between the Venezuelan government and drug trafficking, dismissing them as a false narrative. “They want to sell the idea that we lend ourselves to drug trafficking,” he said, adding that Caracas was actively combating the trade. In a pointed remark, Padrino Lopez said Venezuela’s “successful model of Popular Military Police Union” could even be placed “at the disposal of North American imperialism” to help it fight drug trafficking 'effectively'. The FANB announced on December 29 that it had shot down eight aircraft allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Alto Orinoco municipality near the Brazilian border, an operation that was also praised by President Nicolás Maduro."