The build-up of US naval forces in the Caribbean, boosted by the recent arrival near Latin America of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, has raised speculation that both the US and Venezuela may be preparing for a larger conflict.

While the US has characterized the build-up as aimed at combating drug trafficking, some experts have questioned why so much firepower is needed if the sole aim is targeting drug boats – noting that the ship’s arrival marks the largest US military presence in the region since the invasion of Panama in 1989.

In addition to the aircraft carrier itself – described as the US Navy’s “most lethal combat platform” – the US has amassed roughly 15,000 personnel in the region alongside more than a dozen warships – including a cruiser, destroyers, an air and missile defense command ship, and amphibious assault vessels – and an attack submarine. It has also deployed 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico, which has become a hub for the US military as part of the increased focus on the Caribbean.

That sort of firepower brings into sharp relief what experts characterize as the aging Soviet-era equipment Venezuela would be relying on if US President Donald Trump were to decide on military action inside the country.

Here’s what we know about the forces at Caracas’ disposal:

A tough, but aging, Soviet image

A member of the Bolivarian Militia holds a Russian-made 9K338 "Igla-S" surface-to-air missile launcher as he takes part in a rally against US military activity in the Caribbean, in Caracas on October 30, 2025. Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images

Venezuela’s conventional military, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), has built a reputation