Military of Venezuela

As of 2000, the national armed forces of Venezuela (FAN Fuerza Armada Nacional) enlisted 87,500 individuals in four service branches–the Army, Navy (including the Marine Corps), Air Force, and the Armed Forces of Cooperation (FAC), commonly known as the National Guard. As of 2005, about 100,000 soldiers were integrated in the military through a fifth service branch, the Armed Reserve, although this force is more of a militia than a formal, professional armed corps. In 2001, a civilian was appointed Minister of Defense for the first time in many decades.

His role is largely policy-oriented, and operational command remains with a uniformed services commander. As of 2006 the FAN will be transformed into six service branches, the Army, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, National Reserve, Territorial Guard. The Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard will serve under the Strategic Operational Command (Comando Estrategico Operacional), the National Reserve and the Territorial Guard will serve under the National Reserve and Mobilization Command (Comando General de la Reserva Nacional y Movilizacion Nacional)

In 2005 Venezuela signed agreements with Spain to procure 12 naval transport and reconaissance aircraft and eight naval patrol vessels. The deal has been greeted with criticism from the United States, which opposes the regime of President Hugo Chavez. Chavez claims the deal is necessary for Venezuela’s defense, and criticized the United States for failing to supply spare parts for Venezuelan F-16 fighter jets.

The United States, in turn, has threatened to block the deal, since the Spanish defense exports contain suffecient amounts of American technology that an export license from the United States is required. As the deal is worth USD 1.5-2 billion dollars to the Spanish defense industry, as well as some 900 new job creations, this has caused tensions between the U.S. and Spain. [1]

Venezuela has also recently purchased 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and 12 military helicopters from Russia.

Military branches: National Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional or FAN) includes:

- Ground Forces.or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito)

- Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada)

- Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion)

- Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)

- National Reserve (Reserva Nacional)

- Territorial Guard (Guardia Territorial)

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 6,767,862 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 4,870,751 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 249,319 (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: USD 1,687 million (FY04) USD 934 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.5% (FY04) 0.9% (FY99)