Vladimir Padrino López: Difference between revisions

On 5 July 1984, Padrino graduated from [[Bolivarian Military University of Venezuela|Military Academy of Venezuela]].<ref name=ENoct2014>{{cite news|title=¿Quién es Vladimir Padrino?|url=http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/Vladimir-Padrino_0_506949405.html|access-date=1 February 2015|agency=El Nacional|date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222194439/http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/Vladimir-Padrino_0_506949405.html|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He commanded [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]] personnel of the Antonio Ricaurte Infantry Battalion in Rubio, Táchira State. Between February and May 1995, Padrino was sent to the [[Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation|School of the Americas]] at [[Fort Benning]], Georgia for a “Psychological Operations” and “Advanced Officer training” course by the US Army.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://talcualdigital.com/index.php/2017/11/01/conozca-en-detalle-quien-es-el-general-padrino-lopez/|title=Conozca en detalle: ¿Quién es el General Padrino López?|date=2 November 2017}}</ref> During the [[2002 Venezuelan coup d’état attempt]], he was a colonel of the [[Simon Bolivar Infantry Battalion|Simón Bolívar Infantry Battalion]] in Fuerte Tiuna,<ref name=ENoct2014/> remaining loyal to the government of [[Hugo Chávez]]. He was later appointed Chief of Joint Staff of the Strategic Defense Central Region Integral by President ~~Chavez~~.

In 2013, Padrino became the commander in chief of the Venezuelan Armed ~~forces~~.<ref name=ENoct2014/> On 24 October 2014, Padrino was named by President [[~~Nicolas~~ Maduro]] to be the successor of [[Carmen Meléndez]] as the Minister of Defense. Currently Padrino and the Minister of People’s Power for Defense hold the positions of Strategic Operational commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.

In 2013, Padrino became the commander in chief of the Venezuelan Armed .<ref name=ENoct2014/> On 24 October 2014, Padrino was named by President [[ Maduro]] to be the successor of [[Carmen Meléndez]] as the Minister of Defense. Currently Padrino and the Minister of People’s Power for Defense hold the positions of Strategic Operational commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.

===Increased authority===

On 12 July 2016, President ~~[[Nicolás~~ Maduro]] granted Padrino the powers to distribute food and medicine, authority over all [[Bolivarian missions]], while also having his military command five of Venezuela’s main ports,<ref>{{cite news|title=Venezuela Military Seizes Major Ports as Economic Crisis Deepens|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/venezuela-military-seizes-major-ports-as-economic-crisis-deepens/3416195.html|access-date=25 July 2016|agency=[[Voice of America]]|date=13 July 2016}}</ref> with Maduro stating:<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2016-07-12 |title=Padrino López controlará el nuevo plan de Maduro contra la escasez |url=https://runrun.es/nacional/270153/maduro-creo-la-gran-mision-abastecimiento-soberano-y-seguro/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=[[Runrunes]] |language=es}}</ref>

On 12 July 2016, President Maduro granted Padrino the powers to distribute food and medicine, authority over all [[Bolivarian missions]], while also having his military command five of Venezuela’s main ports,<ref>{{cite news|title=Venezuela Military Seizes Major Ports as Economic Crisis Deepens|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/venezuela-military-seizes-major-ports-as-economic-crisis-deepens/3416195.html|access-date=25 July 2016|agency=[[Voice of America]]|date=13 July 2016}}</ref> with Maduro stating:<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2016-07-12 |title=Padrino López controlará el nuevo plan de Maduro contra la escasez |url=https://runrun.es/nacional/270153/maduro-creo-la-gran-mision-abastecimiento-soberano-y-seguro/ |access-date=2023-11-19 |website=[[Runrunes]] |language=es}}</ref>

<blockquote>All ministries and government institutions are subordinated to the National Command of the Great Mission for Safe Sovereign and Safe Supply, which is under the command of the President and of the top General, Vladimir Padrino López.</blockquote>

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==Personal life==

~~Vladimir~~ Padrino ~~López~~ was married to engineer Yarazetd Jennifer Betancourt Contreras, who worked at PDVSA. From this marriage, he has two children: Mitchell Padrino Betancourt and Yarazetd Padrino Betancourt. He later had a romantic relationship with Vivian Arlet Ruiz Barrera.

Padrino was married to engineer Yarazetd Jennifer Betancourt Contreras, who worked at PDVSA. From this marriage, he has two children Mitchell Padrino Betancourt and Yarazetd Padrino Betancourt. He later had a romantic relationship with Vivian Arlet Ruiz Barrera.

==Written work==

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==Sanctions==

Padrino ~~López~~ has been [[International sanctions during the Venezuelan crisis|sanctioned by several countries]] and is banned from entering neighboring Colombia. The Colombian government maintains a list of people banned from entering Colombia or subject to expulsion; as of January 2019, the list had 200 people with a “close relationship and support for the Nicolás Maduro regime”.<ref name=MaduroHeads>{{cite news |url= https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/colombia-prohibe-el-ingreso-al-pais-a-200-personas-cercanas-a-maduro-320994 |work= El Tiempo |language= es | access-date= 13 April 2019 | title= Maduro encabeza lista de 200 venezolanos que no pueden entrar al país |date= 30 January 2019 |trans-title= Maduro tops list of 200 Venezuelans who can not enter the country}}</ref><ref name= Colombia31Jan2019>{{cite web |url= https://www.rcnradio.com/colombia/primera-parte-de-lista-de-colaboradores-de-maduro-que-no-pueden-ingresar-colombia |publisher= RCN Radio |language = es |access-date= 13 April 2019 |title= Primera parte de lista de colaboradores de Maduro que no pueden ingresar a Colombia |date= 31 January 2019 |trans-title= First part of list of Maduro collaborators who can not enter Colombia}}</ref>

Padrino has been [[International sanctions during the Venezuelan crisis|sanctioned by several countries]] and is banned from entering neighboring Colombia. The Colombian government maintains a list of people banned from entering Colombia or subject to expulsion; as of January 2019, the list had 200 people with a “close relationship and support for the Nicolás Maduro regime”.<ref name=MaduroHeads>{{cite news |url= https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/colombia-prohibe-el-ingreso-al-pais-a-200-personas-cercanas-a-maduro-320994 |work= El Tiempo |language= es | access-date= 13 April 2019 | title= Maduro encabeza lista de 200 venezolanos que no pueden entrar al país |date= 30 January 2019 |trans-title= Maduro tops list of 200 Venezuelans who can not enter the country}}</ref><ref name= Colombia31Jan2019>{{cite web |url= https://www.rcnradio.com/colombia/primera-parte-de-lista-de-colaboradores-de-maduro-que-no-pueden-ingresar-colombia |publisher= RCN Radio |language = es |access-date= 13 April 2019 |title= Primera parte de lista de colaboradores de Maduro que no pueden ingresar a Colombia |date= 31 January 2019 |trans-title= First part of list of Maduro collaborators who can not enter Colombia}}</ref>

On 22 September 2017, Canada sanctioned Padrino due to rupture of Venezuela’s constitutional order following the [[2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Venezuela sanctions|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2017/09/venezuela_sanctions.html|website=[[Government of Canada]]|access-date=22 September 2017|language=en|date=22 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Canada sanctions 40 Venezuelans with links to political, economic crisis|url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canada-sanctions-40-venezuelans-with-links-to-political-economic-crisis/article36367074/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&|access-date=22 September 2017|work=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=22 September 2017}}</ref> The United States government has also sanctioned Padrino on 25 September 2018 for his role in solidifying President Maduro’s power in Venezuela.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2018/09/25/US-targets-Venezuelans-with-new-sanctions-for-corruption/1321537888346/|title=U.S. targets Venezuelans with new sanctions for corruption|work=UPI|access-date=2018-09-27|language=en}}</ref>

==Reception==

==References==

==Further reading==

*{{cite web | last=Torres | first=Andrea | title=Crisis in Venezuela: Padrino’s cousin in U.S. urges 4-star general to ‘do the right thing’ | website=WPLG | date=1 Aug 2024 | url=https://www.local10.com/news/politics/2024/08/01/venezuelan-crisis-prompts-padrinos-cousin-to-send-message-from-us-do-the-right-thing/ | access-date=2 Aug 2024}}

Venezuelan Minister of Defense since 2014

Vladimir Padrino López (born 30 May 1963) is a Venezuelan four-star general serving as the current Minister of Defense for the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela since 24 October 2014.

Military career

On 5 July 1984, Padrino graduated from Military Academy of Venezuela.^[1] He commanded mortar personnel of the Antonio Ricaurte Infantry Battalion in Rubio, Táchira State. Between February and May 1995, Padrino was sent to the School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Georgia for a “Psychological Operations” and “Advanced Officer training” course by the US Army.^[2] During the 2002 Venezuelan coup d’état attempt, he was a colonel of the Simón Bolívar Infantry Battalion in Fuerte Tiuna,^[1] remaining loyal to the government of Hugo Chávez. He was later appointed Chief of Joint Staff of the Strategic Defense Central Region Integral by President Chávez.

In 2013, Padrino became the commander in chief of the Venezuelan Armed Forces.^[1] On 24 October 2014, Padrino was named by President Nicolás Maduro to be the successor of Carmen Meléndez as the Minister of Defense. Currently Padrino and the Minister of People’s Power for Defense hold the positions of Strategic Operational commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.

Increased authority

On 12 July 2016, President Maduro granted Padrino the powers to distribute food and medicine, authority over all Bolivarian missions, while also having his military command five of Venezuela’s main ports,^[3] with Maduro stating:^[4]

All ministries and government institutions are subordinated to the National Command of the Great Mission for Safe Sovereign and Safe Supply, which is under the command of the President and of the top General, Vladimir Padrino López.

This action performed by President Maduro made General Padrino one of the most powerful people in Venezuela, possibly “the second most powerful man in Venezuelan politics”.^[5] Bloomberg‘s editorial board compared Padrino’s appointment to the Cuban government’s tactic of granting the Cuban military the power to manage Cuba’s economy.^[5]

Personal life

Padrino was married to engineer Yarazetd Jennifer Betancourt Contreras, who worked at PDVSA. From this marriage, he has two children in Mitchell Padrino Betancourt and Yarazetd Padrino Betancourt. He later had a romantic relationship with Vivian Arlet Ruiz Barrera.

Written work

Padrino is the author of the manual Preparation Process Operations, which is used as query and serves as a reference in all institutes, schools and universities and vocational training of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces.

Sanctions

Padrino has been sanctioned by several countries and is banned from entering neighboring Colombia. The Colombian government maintains a list of people banned from entering Colombia or subject to expulsion; as of January 2019, the list had 200 people with a “close relationship and support for the Nicolás Maduro regime”.^[6]^[7]

On 22 September 2017, Canada sanctioned Padrino due to rupture of Venezuela’s constitutional order following the 2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election.^[8]^[9] The United States government has also sanctioned Padrino on 25 September 2018 for his role in solidifying President Maduro’s power in Venezuela.^[10]

Military career

Increased authority

Personal life

Written work

Sanctions

References

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