In a televised ceremony on October 23, 2025, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced that his country has deployed no fewer than 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S man-portable surface-to-air missiles* to key air-defense positions. The move is a direct response to the United States’ escalating military presence in the Caribbean, which Venezuela views as a prelude to regime change.
Light enough for a single soldier to carry, allowing deployment in remote mountains, towns and cities.
Maduro emphasized that “any military force in the world knows the power of the Igla-S,” positioning the system as a deterrent against potential US air strikes.
stationed in the Caribbean as part of a counter-narcotics operation.
US forces have destroyed at least eight vessels allegedly smuggling drugs from Venezuela since September 2025, killing dozens of people.
President Donald Trump hinted at expanding the campaign to land targets, stating, “We are certainly looking at land now, because we’ve got the sea very well under control.”
Maduro claimed his volunteer militias now number *over 8 million reservists though experts question the figure and training quality.
Latin American leaders have condemned the US deployment as a “dress rehearsal” for intervention, heightening regional instability.
cited by Maduro cannot be independently verified, but the systems are confirmed to be part of Venezuela’s arsenal according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
Maduro’s announcement is as much a show of force as it is a diplomatic warning. While the missiles bolster Venezuela’s air defenses, the US continues to pressure Maduro through military demonstrations and covert action. The situation remains a high-stakes game of brinkmanship, with no clear resolution in sight
