Vladimir Padrino López
Minister of Defense and FANB Strategic Operational Commander
At a glance
General Vladimir Padrino López is Venezuela's Minister of Defense and the longest-serving head of the FANB armed forces — the senior uniformed figure in the Maduro government.
Who is Vladimir Padrino López?
Vladimir Padrino López has served as Minister of Defense since 2014 and as Strategic Operational Commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB). He commands the army, navy, air force, Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), and the militia.
Padrino López is the central figure foreign investors and compliance teams watch when assessing the loyalty of the Venezuelan military to the Maduro government — historically the decisive variable in any political-transition scenario.
Also known as: Vladimir Padrino; Padrino López.
Career timeline
- 2014 — Appointed Minister of Defense
- 2017 — Added as Strategic Operational Commander of the FANB
Network & connections
The following figures are part of Vladimir Padrino López's direct political, cabinet, or institutional network — useful for compliance teams mapping the wider Venezuelan power structure:
Frequently asked questions
▸ Who is Vladimir Padrino López?
▸ Is Padrino López sanctioned by the U.S.?
Sources & further reading
Useful tools and explainers
- Browse all active OFAC Venezuela SDN designations — the live US Treasury tracker for individuals, entities, vessels, and aircraft.
- OFAC Venezuela sanctions checker — paste any name to check it against the active SDN list.
- How to invest in Venezuela (2026 sanctions-safe guide)
- Browse all Venezuelan power figures
Other military & security
FANB high command, GNB, DGCIM, SEBIN, and the armed-forces leadership.
Diosdado Cabello
Diosdado Cabello is Minister of Interior, Justice, and Peace and the PSUV's first vice president — long considered the second most powerful figure in the Venezuelan government.
Open profile MILITARY & SECURITYDomingo Hernández Lárez
General-in-Chief Domingo Hernández Lárez is the Strategic Operational Commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (CEOFANB) — the senior operational figure in the FANB chain of command.
Open profile MILITARY & SECURITYHenry Rangel Silva
General-in-Chief Henry Rangel Silva is a former Defense Minister and former governor of Trujillo state, one of the longest-serving senior military figures in the Bolivarian government.
Open profile