“… Analysts differ over how much of Venezuela’s air defenses are fully functional and maintained, but there is consensus that the military possesses a nationwide network of
S-125 Pechora anti-aircraft batteries, as well as multiple air defense units
armedwith ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannons and Igla-S man-portable air defense systems. The military also has
multiple S-300VM Antey-2500s, a sophisticated long-range missile system capable of shooting down aircraft and ballistic missiles, although these are more focused along the country’s border regions.
Any serious U.S. plan to carry out airstrikes on Venezuelan soil would likely seek to neutralize these systems first, which would mean directly engaging in hostilities with Venezuelan armed forces. Direct, open conflict with the Venezuelan military would be risky. It could devolve into a chain of violence that could last for years and potentially spill over into neighboring countries.
Venezuela is home to one of the
largest stockpiles of guns in the Western Hemisphere, not to mention dissidents of Colombian guerrilla groups and
thousands of members of pro-government paramilitary organizations known as
colectivos. Complicating matters further is the Bolivarian Militia, a volunteer civilian corps that Maduro has carried out training exercises with in recent weeks.
If Trump is not careful, unilateral U.S. military action in Venezuela could see the country collapse into chaos, potentially fueling a Libya-style meltdown just a three-hour flight from Miami….”
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