Why Russia’s fearsome arsenal fell flat in Venezuela during US Maduro raid
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Venezuela was unable to maintain and operate its world-class air defence systems, leaving its airspace vulnerable to US attacks.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Maria Abi-Habib, Eric Schmitt, Christiaan Triebert, Julian E. Barnes
WASHINGTON – Venezuela’s advanced, Russian-made air defence systems were not even hooked up to radar when US helicopters swooped in to snatch President Nicolas Maduro, US officials said, rendering Venezuelan airspace surprisingly unprotected long before the Pentagon launched its attack.
The vaunted Russian-made S-300 and Buk-M2 air defence systems were supposed to be a potent symbol of the close ties between Venezuela and Russia, two rivals of the US. Their alliance appeared to give Russia a growing foothold in the Western Hemisphere.