Venezuela Faces Uphill Battle Amid US Military Threats: Can Maduro's Forces Hold Back?
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US President Donald Trump's warning that Venezuela's airspace is 'closed in its entirety' has sparked concerns about a possible military strike. But how would Venezuela's armed forces, weakened by decades-old equipment and stagnant wages, respond to such an attack? According to sources, Venezuela's military is heavily outmatched by the US, with poor training, inadequate funding, and aging hardware. Soldiers earn around $100 a month, barely enough to cover basic expenses, and desertions could rise if the US launched a strike. Maduro has attempted to shore up loyalty by appointing officers to government posts, but the effectiveness of this strategy remains uncertain. The military's experience is largely limited to responding to protests, where they face unarmed civilians. In the event of a US attack, Venezuela's military would likely resort to guerrilla-style resistance or create widespread disorder, according to planning documents and sources. This could involve small military units operating from over 280 locations, using sabotage and other tactics to disrupt US operations. The Venezuelan government has already deployed 5,000 Russian-made Igla missiles, which Maduro has touted as a key defensive asset. However, experts question the missiles' effectiveness against US aircraft. A separate strategy, described as 'anarchization,' would involve intelligence services and armed ruling-party groups creating turmoil in Caracas and rendering the country ungovernable. This approach has not been acknowledged by officials, but it reflects the Venezuelan government's desperation to counter US military pressure. As tensions escalate, opposition groups, NGOs, and several Latin American governments have accused Maduro's government of links to drug-trafficking networks. The Venezuelan government denies these allegations, arguing that Washington is pursuing regime change to seize control of the country's vast oil reserves. The outcome of a potential US military strike on Venezuela remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the country's military is facing a daunting challenge in defending against a much more powerful adversary.
