The air defense systems purchased by Caracas from Russia "didn’t work too well" during the U.S. operation in Venezuela, joked the Pentagon chief, DW reports.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset joked about the lack of attempts by Venezuelan troops to repel U.S. airstrikes during a military operation by American forces that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Speaking to military personnel at a shipyard in Virginia on Monday, January 5, Hegset boasted that Americans managed to enter Caracas without any casualties.
"Three nights ago in Venezuela, nearly 200 of our best Americans entered downtown Caracas…" Hegset emphasized, noting that the operation was carried out without a single U.S. service member killed. "It seems those very Russian air defense systems didn’t work too well, did they?" he joked.
During the same speech, Pete Hegset stated that the U.S. does not seek conflicts with other countries; however, the world has entered a "new era of superpower competition." In this context, the U.S. Secretary of Defense mentioned only China directly. According to Hegset, the U.S. "will rise to meet this challenge" and will implement technologies in the defense sector "that will be necessary for dominance in future combat operations."
Venezuela Did Not Use Air Defense to Repel U.S. Attack
Russia became one of the main suppliers of weapons to Venezuela in the mid-2000s after the U.S. ceased doing so, media reports note. The total amount of contracts in this area was about $14.5 billion, with Russian authorities allowing Caracas to take equipment on credit and deferring repayment terms.
Among the arms supplies from Russia to Venezuela were aircraft, helicopters, ground military equipment, as well as air defense systems, including the S-300 missile systems, Buk, modernized Soviet Pechora-2M missile systems, and portable Igla missile systems.
In May 2025, Nicolás Maduro visited Moscow, where he signed a strategic partnership agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The document included military-technical cooperation "in the interest of strengthening the defense capabilities and ensuring the security of both countries."
Maduro's Capture Happened Almost Without a Fight
The U.S. operation, dubbed "Absolute Resolve," took place in Venezuela on the night of January 3. According to media reports, more than 150 aircraft and drones were involved in striking targets in northern Venezuela, including Caracas.
Analysts note that during the operation, U.S. aviation encountered virtually no resistance: reports indicated damage to only one helicopter. This gave rise to speculation that the U.S. bribed Venezuelan generals, but there is no evidence to support such theories.
At the same time, it is known that Venezuelan military forces blocked runways at air hubs near Caracas. Such actions could have prevented a possible American landing during an attempted occupation; however, it later became clear that the goal of the U.S. operation was indeed the capture of Maduro. For this, Delta Force, acting according to a rehearsed scenario, landed from helicopters directly at the residence of the Venezuelan ruler. As a result, he and his wife were captured and taken to the U.S., where the couple faced charges of drug trafficking. Maduro declared his innocence.
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