Venezuela’s prolonged crisis is often described as the product of economic mismanagement, political polarization, and international sanctions. While these factors are undeniably important, such explanations remain incomplete without examining the role of one powerful institution: the Venezuelan military. Over the past two decades, the armed forces have evolved from a national defense body into a central political and economic actor, making them a key factor not only in sustaining the current system but also in obstructing meaningful change.

The politicization of Venezuela’s military did not begin with President Nicolás Maduro. It accelerated under Hugo Chávez, a former army officer who came to power in 1999. Chávez deliberately reshaped civil–military relations, integrating the armed forces into his political project and elevating their status as ideological partners of the “Bolivarian Revolution.”

Under Maduro, this relationship deepened further. Lacking Chávez’s popular legitimacy, Maduro relied heavily on military loyalty to remain in power. Senior officers were promoted into ministerial roles, governorships, and leadership positions within state-owned enterprises. Over time, the military ceased to be merely supportive of the government and became one of its main foundations.

One of the most significant........

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