August M
Venezuela’s armed forces have once again become the focus of global attention. With Nicolás Maduro removed from power by the United States, questions are mounting over whether the military remains a decisive force or a hollowed-out institution.
For years, the army was seen as the backbone of political power in Caracas. Today, its real strength looks far less certain.
Built for loyalty
According to DR News, Venezuela’s military was once among the most formidable in Latin America. Under Hugo Chávez, oil revenues were channelled into defence, Russian weapons were purchased, and military figures were placed throughout the state.
That strategy was designed as much to secure loyalty as to build capability. After a failed coup attempt in 2002, Chávez and later Maduro dramatically expanded the number of senior officers.
Carlos Salas Lind, a lecturer at Copenhagen Business School and expert on Latin American politics, said thousands of high-ranking posts were created to make coordination against the president nearly impossible.
Big on paper
By regional standards, Venezuela still has a large force. The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates around 123,000 active personnel, spread across the army, navy, air force and national guard.
In addition, there are reservists and the Bolivarian Militia, a civilian force whose size is disputed. While estimates once placed it in the hundreds of thousands, Maduro himself claimed millions could be mobilised.
Yet size has not translated into effectiveness.
Equipment and morale
Years of economic decline have taken a toll. Much of the military’s hardware consists of ageing Russian equipment that has not been properly maintained.
“When they were attacked, nothing worked,” Salas Lind said, describing how US helicopters were able to operate freely over Caracas while Venezuelan defences failed to respond.
Low pay has further weakened the ranks. Ordinary soldiers earn so little that their salaries cover only a fraction of basic living costs, while generals and senior officers enjoy far better conditions.
Trust in question
Corruption and internal divisions have grown alongside the economic crisis. One striking detail noted by Salas Lind is that Maduro increasingly relied on foreign protection.
US media reported that many of those guarding the former president during the raid were Cuban soldiers, not Venezuelans. The New York Times said Maduro viewed Cuban operatives as “experienced and incorruptible.”
“It suggests he didn’t trust his own military,” Salas Lind said.
Who holds sway now
Despite its weaknesses, the military is still expected to follow orders from the top. Defence minister Vladimir Padrino López said after Maduro’s capture that the armed forces remained loyal to the regime.
At the same time, interim president Delcy Rodríguez has signalled openness to cooperating with Washington, a shift that came after consultations with senior commanders.
Salas Lind believes the message is clear. The military does not see itself as capable of confronting the United States, and its priority now is stability during a transition.
Sources: DR News, International Institute for Strategic Studies, CNN, The New York Times
