Venezuela Crisis: Rattled By Trump's Threats, Can Latin American Nations Fight US Military?

New Delhi: The United States shook up the entire world right at the start of the New Year 2026 with a military attack on Venezuela and abducting its President Nicolas Maduro.

What has Trump told South American nations?

This American attack on Venezuela has been condemned by several Latin American countries. US President Donald Trump also issued warnings to Colombia, Cuba, and Mexico, stating that action would be taken against them if they did not change their behaviour. 

Trump claimed he was doing this to stop drug trafficking and protect American interests. The US military attack on Venezuela has reopened old wounds of American intervention in Latin America.

What happened during the US attack?

The US launched a military operation in Venezuela, but the Venezuelan army offered little resistance. However, according to the US government, Cuban soldiers were deployed to protect Maduro. 

The US has claimed that 32 Cuban soldiers were killed in the attack, while none of its own soldiers were killed. This US action has made it clear that the Latin American countries, even collectively, cannot withstand a US military operation. Their armies are not strong enough to deter the US.

How strong is the US military?

The United States has the most powerful military in the world. It spends more on its military than the next 10 largest military spenders combined. In 2025, the US defence budget was approximately $895 billion.

Which is the largest military power in Latin America?

According to the Global Firepower Ranking 2025, Brazil is the largest military power in Latin America. Brazil ranks 11th in the world in terms of military strength. Mexico is ranked 32nd, Colombia 46th, Venezuela 50th, and Cuba 67th. These Latin American countries lag far behind the US in terms of troop numbers, fighter jets, tanks, navy, and budget. 

These countries are only ahead of the US in one area: paramilitary forces. Paramilitary forces fight in a different manner from regular armies. There are several countries in Latin America that have a large number of paramilitary forces, but these are not under the command of the armies of the respective nations.