Venezuelan Military as a POLITICAL ACTOR

Independence & Post Independence Simon Bolivar as liberator of Northern South America Criollo elite Boves the brutal and primitive royalist commander Military forces of 19 th century Armies of regional caudillos Liberals begin to establish a professional army ( )

Andean Militarism ( ) From small towns of Tachira Little professional training Married into Caracas upper class Generational divide leads to revolution of October 1945 Military at the heart of General Perez Jimenez’s “New National Ideal”

Military & Consolidation of Punto Fijo Democracy President Betancourt reorganizes the armed forces Abolition of the joint staff Institutionalized competition for resources Military role as defender of the 1961 constitution

Military Support for Punto Fijo Increased budgets Sophisticated military equipment Social services Professional training in the North Atlantic Positions in public administration for retired officers

Strong Ties with the United States Military Cooperation to neutralize leftist guerrillas in 1960’s Military groups residing “in country” Joint maneuvers 1980’s – purchase of F 16 aircraft

The Unsuccessful Coups of 1992 February 4, 1992 (4F) Junior officer “Bolivarians” come close to capturing President Perez Lt. Col Hugo Chavez gains notoriety Government purges Army Officer Corps November 27, 1992 Navy and Air Force More violence Military leaders frighten the populace

Military in Post-Coup Era Son in law of President Caldera (General Pérez Rojas) involved in corruption Tripartite division of military Strongly supportive of Punto Fijo Professional, non-political Clandestine supporters of Hugo Chavez

Military as a Factor in the Transition to the Fifth Republic Military insures the integrity of the 1998 electoral process 1961 Constitution commits military to uphold democracy Extent of Chavez support in officer corps unclear Caldera urges the military to respect the electoral outcome AD refuses to support military efforts to block Chavez’s assumption of power

External Actors, Venezuela’s Military & Chavez’s Assumption of Power Much of Venezuela’s officer corps trained by the United States military United States government upholds sanctity of elections Latin American neighbors uphold the sanctity of elections

Armed Forces emerge as backers of the Fifth Republic Purges of senior, anti-Chávez military Promotion of sympathetic junior officers Staffing of senior positions in the police and intelligence forces with confidants of President Chávez

Armed Forces and the Paro of December February 2002 Armed Forces disarm police forces controlled by politicians opposed to President Chávez In general – maintain order during anti-Chávez marches Evidence mounts of violence being used against dissident military personnel.

Heightened Tensions February – March Chavez fired the head of the state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), and appointed a new board of directors. - Ousted PDVSA executives ally with the Catholic Church, media, and anti-Chavez military officers - Anti-government also included the business elite and middle class.

Golpe April 11, 2002 March on the Presidential Palace (Miraflores) protests politicization of PDVSA and National Assembly grant of additional powers to the executive Violence at end of march leads to death of at least 20 Chavez detained and incarcerated on a Caribbean island

Golpe and Counter-Golpe April 12 – 13, 2002 Security forces raid the residences of government supporters Chávez supporters arrested Military and civilian supporters quarrel over the shape of the new government

More Golpe April 12, 2002 Military installs the president of FEDECAMARAS as the president of the Republic Constitution suspended Institutions closed United States government supportive of new government

Golpe and Counter-Golpe April 12 – 13, 2002 Security forces raid the residences of government supporters Chávez supporters arrested Military and civilian supporters quarrel over the shape of the new government

Counter-Golpe April 12 – 13, 2002 Chávez loyalists take to the streets Carmona & supporters retreat to military headquarters of Fuerte Tiuna Army returns President Chávez to Miraflores

AFTERMATH OF THE GOLPE Officers of questionable loyalty removed from positions of command loyalists promoted Intelligence services purged

MORE AFTERMATH OF THE GOLPE President Chávez cuts most remaining ties with the United States military Asymetric warfare to resist possible seizure of Venezuelan oil fields by President George W. Bush 2005 increased control by Bolivarian elite over promotions Strengthening of reserve forces ties with Communal Councils

Encouragement of Afro-Caribbean religion within the Armed Forces – SANTERIA

Unexpected Defection of General Raúl Isaías Baduel (November 2007) Helped to reinstall Chávez’s in office during a brief coup in 2002 Minister of Defense Described the proposed changes to 1999 Constitution “in effect a coup d’état”

Venezuelan Military: A Bolivarian Armed force (2012) Regulars Commanded by Bolivarian loyalists $ 5 billion in Arms purchases from Russia Some Iranian influence Militias Personally responsible to El Comandante Recruitment from Community Councils Training Insurgency Maintenance of order