Vladimir Padrino López
Former Defense Minister of Venezuela (until March 2026)
At a glance
General Vladimir Padrino López served as Venezuela's Defense Minister for over 11 years until being dismissed by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez on March 18, 2026 — the longest tenure of any modern Venezuelan defense chief.
Who is Vladimir Padrino López?
Vladimir Padrino López served as Minister of Defense from October 2014 to March 18, 2026, and as Strategic Operational Commander of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) from 2017. He commanded the army, navy, air force, Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), and the militia.
Padrino López was dismissed in March 2026 by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and replaced by General Gustavo González López, the former military-counterintelligence chief and a Rodríguez ally. The dismissal is widely read as the most important post-Maduro cabinet move so far — Padrino had been the senior uniformed figure underpinning the previous government, and his removal signaled the consolidation of the Rodríguez-led transition.
Padrino López remains on the OFAC SDN list under Venezuela-related programs.
Also known as: Vladimir Padrino; Padrino López.
Career timeline
- 2014 — Appointed Minister of Defense
- 2017 — Added as Strategic Operational Commander of the FANB
- 2018 — Added to the OFAC SDN list
- 2026 — Dismissed as Defense Minister on March 18 by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez; replaced by Gustavo González López
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 served as the Strategic Operational Commander of Venezuela's Bolivarian National Armed Forces (CEOFANB) from 2021 until March 19, 2026, when he was dismissed by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez and replaced by Major General Rafael Prieto Martínez.
Open profile MILITARY & SECURITYGustavo González López
General Gustavo González López is Venezuela's Defense Minister, appointed by Acting President Delcy Rodríguez on March 18, 2026 to replace Vladimir Padrino López. A U.S.-trained intelligence officer, he was previously head of the DGCIM and SEBIN.
Open profile