Following the deployment of U.S. ships near the country’s waters, the Venezuelan regime finds itself torn between mass mobilization and the structural limitations of a weakened power.
Amid increasing geopolitical tension, Venezuela’s military strength once again comes under scrutiny. In response to the deployment of U.S. ships near the Caribbean as part of a drug enforcement operation, President Nicolás Maduro showcased a symbolic display of force: he ordered the mobilization of over 4.5 million Chavista militia members across the nation, accusing the U.S. of preparing an unjustified aggression. “The empire has gone mad,” the leader declared, reaffirming a narrative of resistance that has defined Venezuela’s defense policy in recent years.
In this context, media such as Reuters have indicated that it’s unclear how exactly the U.S. military presence would disrupt drug trafficking. They highlight that most maritime drug trafficking routes lead to the United States via the Pacific, not the Atlantic where U.S. forces are stationed, and much of what reaches the Caribbean does so via clandestine flights. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan president has called for a national enlistment process and urged “all citizens who wish to enlist and join the ranks”.
“Stay calm, just as we triumphed yesterday against the threats of imperialism, Venezuela will again triumph over all extravagant, bizarre, and criminal threats from North American imperialism. Steel nerves, calmness and reason, and maximum popular-military-police unity,” he expressed. But beyond the rhetoric, what is the actual military capacity of Venezuela today? Related News
A large yet weakened force
According to the Military Power Ranking 2025, Venezuela ranks 52nd globally. In the 2025 Global Firepower ranking, it occupies the 50th position, preceded by Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile or Peru. While the Venezuelan nation maintains one of the largest armed forces in Latin America in terms of personnel, its effective military power has been severely impacted by economic collapse, structural corruption, and deteriorating infrastructure.
-Active military personnel: 120,000
-Reservists: 100,000
-Paramilitary forces: over 220,000
–Reserve force size: approximately more than 500,000 (including Bolivarian militias and reserve bodies)
The backbone of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) consists of the Army (80,000), Navy (30,000), and Air Force (10,000). Additionally, there are parallel organizations such as the National Guard and the paramilitary group known as the Collectives, which reinforce internal security.
Conventional military power: large on paper, limited in practice
Looking more closely, the ground forces in Venezuela consist of:
-Main battle tanks (MBT): over 700 (T-72B1)
-Armored fighting vehicles (AFV): over 1,500
-Artillery: over 600 units
-Multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): over 100
Air force:
–Fighter aircraft: more than 80 (including 24 Su-30MK2 and 18 modernized F-16)
-Helicopters: over 100
–Transport aircraft: more than 20 (including 6 C-130 Hercules)
Naval force:
–Submarines: 2 (Type 209)
-Frigates: 6 (Lupo class)
-Corvettes: 6
-Patrol vessels: more than 40
-Fast attack boats: more than 10
In theory, this arsenal positions Venezuela as a considerable military power in South America. However, poor maintenance, obsolete equipment, and a lack of parts have left much of this material inoperable or stuck. Many aircraft, vessels, and armored vehicles are out of service or have been cannibalized for spare parts.
A doctrine focused on regime defense
According to Military Power Ranking, Venezuelan military power is not designed for sustained external campaigns, but rather to withstand internal threats and deter foreign interventions. Its military doctrine revolves around the so-called “Comprehensive Defense of the Nation,” a strategy based on:
Guerrilla warfare
Civil mobilization
Prolonged resistance
Asymmetric and popular warfare
This model, inspired by Cuba and Iran, prioritizes regime survival over conventional combat. The strategy fits well with Venezuela’s geographical conditions—forested areas, mountains, and densely populated urban centers—that favor irregular resistance in case of invasion.
Critical points of weakness
Despite its size, specialized defense websites highlight that Venezuela faces three major structural weaknesses that severely limit its real military effectiveness:
–Economic collapse: The lack of fuel, spare parts, and funding has left much of the equipment unusable. The defense budget is insufficient even for basic operational maintenance.
–Lack of strategic deterrence: Venezuela lacks nuclear capability, long-range missiles, electronic warfare capacity, or modern command systems (C4ISR). It cannot project force beyond its borders.
–Politicization of the chain of command: Promotions within the FANB are based more on political loyalty than technical competence. Troop morale is low, and desertions are common.
Military alliances and cooperation
Venezuela maintains close ties with Russia, China, and Iran, which have supplied armaments and technical advice. Cooperation with Cuba has also been key in doctrinal training and internal security operations.
However, these alliances have not compensated for the absence of a national defense industry or the logistical deterioration that the country has suffered for over a decade.
A history of combat focused on internal politics
Historically, Venezuelan military experience has been centered more on low-intensity conflicts, internal repression, and regime defense than on conventional warfare:
-Counterinsurgency (1960-1990): fighting rural guerrillas.
-Coup attempts (1992): Hugo Chávez spearheads two failed attempts.
-Militarization of government (2000-present): civic-military fusion under chavismo.
-Border tensions (Colombia, Guyana): military presence without large-scale conflict.
The conclusion is that we are looking at a military force with symbolic power, not strategic. Venezuela remains a militarized state, but not militarily powerful. Its position of 52 in the global ranking reflects its reality: a large and loyal army to the government but without modern capabilities for conventional warfare. Its strength lies in internal control, mass mobilization, and prolonged resistance rather than in power projection or effective territorial defense against a well-equipped external force.
Alexia Columba Jerez / ABC de España