US-Venezuela Defense Relations

In this video, William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies Assistant Professor Dr. Fabiana Perera provides a virtual talk on “US-Venezuela Defense Relations.” Venezuela is the only country in Latin America that was ever able to purchase F-16s from the United States. The purchase of the aircraft is a clear indicator of the strength of the defense relationship between the two countries in 1980's and 1990's. Since then the relationship has deteriorated considerably, allowing space for extraregional actors to play increasingly important roles in the security and defense sector of one of the region's largest oil producers. This talk will examine the defense relationship between the United States and Venezuela in the period from the Cold War to the present. It will highlight key inflection points in this relationship and challenges to be addressed in the event of a transition to democracy. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this video are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of START, the University of Maryland or the United States government.