In 2025, Venezuela’s military readiness remains strained by years of economic collapse, corruption, and heavy U.S. sanctions—leaving its conventional warfighting capacity limited. Still, the country retains over 120,000 active troops and powerful paramilitary forces dedicated to maintaining internal control. Meanwhile, the United States has launched its largest military buildup in Latin America in decades, deploying the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, stealth fighters, bombers, and subm