Part 3/5:
Venezuela’s military, which comprises approximately 123,000 active personnel, is widely regarded as underprepared for large-scale conflict. The forces are plagued by a lack of combat experience, widespread desertions, and deteriorating equipment—factors that significantly weaken their defensive capabilities.
While the country maintains a claimed civilian militia numbering around 8 million, analysts suggest that only a small fraction—likely in the thousands—would actively participate in any organized resistance in the event of an invasion. The discrepancy between the militia’s claimed size and the probable actual number willing to fight highlights the internal challenges Maduro faces in mobilizing widespread civilian support.