Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is reportedly gearing up for a prolonged guerrilla campaign and widespread disruption should the United States attempt a ground invasion to remove him from power, according to a Reuters report.
With Venezuelan forces significantly outmatched by the US military, Maduro’s strategy focuses on unconventional tactics rather than direct confrontation. High-ranking officials in Caracas have outlined a plan known as “prolonged resistance,” which would see military units dispersed across hundreds of locations nationwide to carry out sabotage, ambushes, and guerrilla operations. The plan also includes an “anarchization” strategy aimed at creating chaos in the capital and preventing a US-backed regime from taking control.
The report comes amid rising tensions, as the US has deployed more than ten warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Caribbean. In preparation, Venezuelan forces have fortified key access routes to Caracas with barriers and heavy machinery, while deploying Russian-made Igla missiles intended for surprise attacks, particularly against aerial threats.
Despite claims that the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela (FANB) has around 123,000 active personnel, analysts warn that the military is relatively small, inexperienced, and reliant on outdated Soviet-era weapons. Maduro’s 8-million-member civilian militia is also expected to provide limited support, with only loyalists likely to participate in combat.
Experts note that third-party actors could further complicate any conflict. Colombian guerrilla groups such as the National Liberation Army operate along Venezuela’s western border, while drug trafficking networks within the country—often cited by the US as justification for intervention—could potentially become involved. Maduro has consistently denied links to these networks, accusing the US of making false claims to justify intervention and gain control over Venezuela’s oil resources.