Maduro Rallies Nation Against US Attacks: Where Does Venezuela’s Military Rank?

Explosions and the roar of aircraft shook Caracas on Saturday, startling residents across Venezuela’s capital and several nearby regions. Officials later confirmed at least seven blasts, which triggered power outages in some areas. Authorities said Caracas and the states of Miranda, La Guaira and Aragua had come under attack during the overnight strikes.

Soon after, President Nicolas Maduro announced a national emergency and blamed the United States for what officials described as a coordinated assault. The government said it "rejects, condemns and denounces" what it described as "serious military aggression perpetrated by the current Government of the United States of America." Authorities warned that more attacks could not be ruled out.

Venezuela military attacks and US response

In a formal statement, the Venezuelan government argued the US action violated core international rules. "This act constitutes a flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter, especially Articles 1 and 2, which enshrine respect for sovereignty, the legal equality of states, and the prohibition of the use of force. Such aggression threatens international peace and stability, specifically in Latin America and the Caribbean, and places the lives of millions of people at grave risk," read the statement.

President Maduro also called for mass mobilisation against Washington. Maduro said, "The entire country must mobilise to defeat this imperialist aggression". On Truth Social, US President Donald Trump wrote that Maduro and Maduro’s wife had been captured and flown out of Venezuela, a claim that further fuelled confusion over the country’s leadership and its ability to control armed forces.

Venezuela military strength and global ranking

The confrontation has turned attention to Venezuela’s military strength and how it compares globally. According to Global Firepower’s 2025 Military Strength Ranking, Venezuela places 50th out of 160 countries studied. Within Latin America, it stands seventh, behind Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and several other regional forces considered better equipped and funded.

Venezuela’s armed forces draw on a mix of active troops, reservists and the National Guard. Reports indicate about 120,000 personnel on active duty, supported by 100,000 reservists and more than 220,000 National Guard members. Estimates suggest the air force includes around 20,000 staff, the army about 115,000, and the navy roughly 25,500 personnel nationwide.

Venezuela military manpower and hardware overview

Available data outline the core structure of the Venezuela military and its weapons inventory. The figures below summarise the key numbers mentioned by defence sources and open databases, showing how personnel and major platforms are distributed across different branches and categories within the country’s armed forces.

Venezuela military equipment and foreign suppliers

Venezuelan forces operate a diverse mix of imported hardware, much of it ageing. The country bought 15 F-16 fighter jets from the United States during the 1980s. The army also fields 173 French AMX-13 tanks, 78 British tanks and a single Sabalo submarine, obtained from Germany in 1973 for naval operations.

Naval assets include one Italian-built frigate, nine coastal patrol vessels, 25 armed speedboats and three landing craft, which together can transport 12 tanks and about 200 personnel. According to Military.com, Venezuela has spent billions on Russian-made systems, including missiles and fighter aircraft, with the aim of discouraging or challenging US ships and planes near its territory.

Venezuela military air defence and deterrence options

The Venezuela military relies heavily on Russian technology for deterrence. Defence sources state that at least 21 Su-30 fighter jets, originally designed in the 1980s, are operational. Ground forces have T-72 main battle tanks and several air defence systems, including S-300, Pechora and Buk missiles, plus portable Igla-S launchers and large numbers of Kalashnikov assault rifles.

Despite these assets, experts say the armed forces are no match for the United States in a direct, large-scale confrontation. Analysts describe Venezuela’s naval capacities as weak, with submarines and many surface ships likely not fully operational. However, the combination of missiles, aircraft and difficult urban terrain could still create significant risks for any attacking force.

Venezuela military militias and internal defence plans

Alongside the regular forces, the government maintains the Bolivarian Militia, created in 2008 under Hugo Chavez. Though formally part of the armed forces, the militia reports directly to the president and is viewed as a loyal political and defensive tool. Its members are drawn from civilian life, including workers in many sectors.

The exact size of the militia is uncertain. In August, Maduro said he was going to "activate … more than 4.5 million militiamen" taken from "all the factories and workplaces of the country." Maduro also declared, "Missiles and rifles for the working class, so that they may defend our homeland," later suggesting the militia had more than eight million members overall.

Independent assessments point to far smaller figures. The International Institute of Strategic Studies estimates 123,000 soldiers, 220,000 militia personnel and 8,000 reservists. Analyst Andrei Serbin Pont of the CRIES think tank told CNN that most militia members lack combat readiness. "Those people do not have sufficient training. There is no real armed structure to mobilise those elements, and those elements would not be effective in combat," he told CNN.

Previous reporting by Reuters indicated that Venezuelan planners expected to rely on irregular warfare if attacked by the United States. Officials described a “prolonged resistance” strategy, built around small military units deployed across more than 280 locations. These groups would focus on sabotage operations and guerrilla tactics rather than conventional battles in open terrain.

Specialists agree Venezuela cannot match US military spending or technology in a classic war, even with Russian equipment and large militia claims. However, the presence of missiles, fighter jets and potential urban resistance means any US campaign could face serious challenges, similar to difficulties experienced in Iraq and Afghanistan, while the situation inside Venezuela remains tense and uncertain.