Quick Summary:
VenezuelaDefenseStrategy2025 as President Nicolás Maduro’s government prepares for possible U.S. aggression through irregular warfare, urban unrest, and reliance on outdated weaponry amid limited military capacity.
Guerrilla Warfare and Urban Disruption
As geopolitical tensions rise, Venezuela is adopting an unconventional defense approach to counter potential U.S. military pressure. Rather than investing in advanced technology, the government is focusing on guerrilla warfare and urban destabilization to offset its military disadvantages.
Leaked internal documents obtained by Reuters indicate that Venezuelan authorities acknowledge their inability to confront the U.S. military in a traditional battle. In response, President Nicolás Maduro’s administration has developed two main strategies: a “prolonged resistance” guerrilla campaign and an “anarchisation” plan aimed at disrupting urban centers.
The prolonged resistance strategy involves deploying small, mobile units across more than 280 strategic points nationwide to conduct sabotage, ambushes, and hit-and-run attacks. Meanwhile, the anarchisation plan focuses on using intelligence operatives and loyalist groups to create chaos in major cities, particularly Caracas, to complicate any potential occupation.
Challenges Facing Venezuela’s Armed Forces
Despite these preparations, Venezuela’s military remains underfunded and poorly equipped. Analysts cite chronic issues such as low morale, inadequate training, and obsolete weaponry. Many soldiers earn around $100 per month, far below the estimated $500 needed for basic living expenses.
The country’s arsenal includes about 20 Sukhoi fighter jets, several helicopters, tanks, and anti-aircraft systems, much of which is outdated. The Igla-S man-portable air-defense systems, numbering around 5,000, date back decades and are unlikely to withstand modern warfare.
While Russia has provided limited technical support to refurbish some assets, it has also urged Venezuela to avoid escalating tensions further.
Political Rhetoric and Military Mobilization
President Maduro continues to project defiance, accusing the United States of plotting to overthrow his government and seize control of Venezuela’s oil reserves. Officials publicly downplay invasion fears, portraying the armed forces as heirs of Simón Bolívar’s revolutionary legacy.
However, insiders admit that Venezuela’s military is ill-prepared for conventional warfare. One source reportedly stated, “We wouldn’t last two hours,” underscoring the country’s limited capacity to resist a full-scale U.S. assault.
Militia and Civilian Involvement
In line with its irregular warfare doctrine, the government has mobilized around 60,000 soldiers and National Guard members to implement the prolonged resistance plan. Additionally, between 5,000 and 7,000 civilians are being trained for urban resistance and street-level defense operations.
This hybrid approach reflects Venezuela’s broader strategy of leveraging asymmetrical warfare and civilian participation to deter or delay any external intervention.
