Venezuela's Military Faces Scrutiny Amid U.S. Tensions

As tensions rise between Washington and the Maduro regime, experts told Fox News Digital that Venezuela's military may look formidable on paper but is hollowed out by years of corruption, decay, and political control.

Isaias Medina, an international lawyer and former Venezuelan diplomat, described Venezuela as a criminalized state dominated by narcotrafficking networks. He warned that any hypothetical U.S. action would be 'evicting a terrorist cartel that settled next door and not invading a country,' emphasizing the need for extreme caution due to the dense civilian population.

Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery stated that while Venezuela's air-naval systems pose a threat, they could be quickly eliminated in a military campaign. He noted that a ground operation would be far more complicated, given Venezuela's size and population, and that the military's capabilities are overstated, with many troops potentially abandoning their posts.

Analysts pointed out that Venezuela's inventory includes an array of military hardware such as 92 T-72B tanks and 610 flyable Su-30MK2 jets. Furthermore, Venezuela's deepening ties with Iran, Russia, and China worry U.S. officials.

Jorge Jraissati, president of the Economic Inclusion Group, highlighted that only 20 percent of Venezuelans approve of the regime, reflecting a lack of respect for the will of the population as Caracas aligns with anti-Western regimes.