Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s inexperienced army is prepared to wage a prolonged guerrilla war and spread anarchy throughout the country if the US attempts a ground invasion to depose him, according to a new report.
As the US continues to build up its threats against Maduro’s regime, the Venezuelan dictator appears to be fully aware that his nation’s military is dwarfed by the might of the American army.
Rather than face an invading force head on, Venezuela plans to mount a guerrilla-style resistance and sow chaos to make it impossible for the US to quickly boot Maduro and replace him with a new leader, according to sources and documents obtained by Reuters.
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The preparations come as the US has more than 10 US warships — including the country’s largest carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford — in the Caribbean amid escalating tensions between Trump and Maduro.
A Marine Expeditionary Unit capable of an amphibious land invasion has also been deployed as part of Trump’s plan to stem the flow of drugs into the US from the socialist country.
Venezuela’s army is small, inexperienced, and ill-equipped
While the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela (FANB) boasts about 123,000 active personnel, the army’s primary combat experience has been confronting unarmed civilians during street protests.
Venezuela’s armed force is also regularly mired by lack of training, low wages, desertions, and deteriorating equipment, six sources familiar with Caracas’ military told Reuters.
Should Maduro activate the supposed 8-million strong civilian militia training in Venezuela, analysts expect only thousands of people loyal to his ruling party to show up for war.
The FANB’s aging army equipment is a big problem for the nation as it relies heavily on Soviet-era weapons and military tech that were acquired by Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez.
While Caracas has some 20 Sukhoi fighter jets that were acquired in the 2000s, they would do little against American B-2 jets.
Venezuela preparing for ‘prolonged resistance’
In the event of a US ground or air attack, Venezuela will mount guerrilla warfare referred to by high-ranking officials in Carcass as “prolonged resistance,” sources told Reuters.
The military units have been ordered to split into more than 280 locations across the country to employ guerrilla tactics and acts of sabotage against invaders.
Maduro has also recently deployed 5,000 of the nation’s Russian-made Igla missiles, which will be used for surprise attacks, one source said.
Venezuela’s military has also reinforced the routes leading to the capital, creating a fortified road filled with anti-vehicle barriers and heavy machinery to stymie any form of ground invasion of Caracas.
Maduro’s forces are also set to launch a so-called “anarchization” strategy, which would use intelligence services and tap loyalists to create disorder in the capital and make Venezuela ungovernable for anyone tapped by the US to lead.
Will third party actors get involved?
It remains unknown if any allies or third party actors could get involved if war breaks out between the US and Venezuela.
The country’s western border sees heavy use by Colombian guerrilla forces like the National Liberation Army, which cultivates the main ingredient for cocaine in the area.
