Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has directed the advancement and development of missile and anti-missile defense systems in Venezuela, emphasizing the strengthening of air and anti-air defense capabilities with indigenous technology and support from allied countries including Russia, China, and Iran. Maduro highlighted the importance of modernizing the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FANB) with the latest technology and maintaining sovereignty and peace. Concurrently, Maduro led military promotion ceremonies and reaffirmed the legacy of Hugo Chávez. In the political arena, the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) claimed victory in the municipal elections held on July 27, securing approximately 285 mayoralties compared to 50 for the opposition amid a boycott by major opposition groups. The elections saw high abstention rates and were described by government officials as a consolidation of political power, with statements underscoring the emergence of a new political landscape in Venezuela. Opposition leader María Corina Machado criticized the military institution and called on the FANB to uphold the constitutional mandate from the July 28 elections, warning that failure to do so would implicate them in constitutional violations. Machado also expressed solidarity with Colombian former President Álvaro Uribe, linking peace in Colombia to freedom in Venezuela. The National Electoral Council (CNE) officially published the list of elected mayors and councilors for over 2,800 positions nationwide following the elections.