Ministry of Defense (Venezuela)

Ministry of People's Power for Defense
Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Defensa
	Seal of the Ministry of People's Power for Defense
	Flag
	; Ministry of Defense in Caracas.
Ministry overview
Formed	April 19, 1810 (as War and Navy Bureau)
Jurisdiction	Government of Venezuela
Headquarters	Caracas, Venezuela; 10°27′38.9″N 66°53′58.4″W / 10.460806°N 66.899556°W
Minister responsible	Vladimir Padrino López;

The Venezuelan Ministry of People's Power for Defense (Spanish: Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Defensa) is the federal-level organization responsible for maintaining the Venezuelan armed forces. As of October 2014, this ministry is headed by General Vladimir Padrino López. The ministry coordinates numerous counter-narcotics operations (e.g., Operation Sierra through the CUFAN organ), helps perform various civil support and social development programs, and oversees the conventional military capabilities of Venezuela.