Chinese and Russian Air Defense Systems on High Alert After Maduro's Arrest... Defect Controversy [Sisa Show]

Venezuela Unable to Respond at All
North Korea and Iran Also Fear U.S. Airstrike Operations

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show'

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop

■ Director: Producer Ma Yena

■ Guest: Reporter Lee Hyunwoo

The United States shocked the international community by abruptly arresting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Even for the United States, which possesses the world's most powerful military, successfully capturing and extraditing the head of a nation within three hours is unprecedented. Venezuela, with a population of 28 million, a standing army of 300,000, and a total force of at least 500,000 including militias, was utterly overwhelmed by the 20,000-strong U.S. military. In particular, it was revealed that the radar and air defense missile systems, which had been supplied by China and Russia, were neutralized by the U.S. military, putting both the Chinese and Russian militaries on high alert.

Chinese Radar and Russian Air Defense Systems Paralyzed... Neutralized in an Instant

A photo of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's arrest posted by U.S. President Donald Trump on the social networking service Truth Social on the 3rd (local time). Photo by Yonhap News

Venezuela had long prepared for a possible U.S. attack by importing a large number of air defense and missile systems from China and Russia. President Maduro boasted that he was ready to resist a U.S. airstrike while hiding in the Tiona Fortress in Caracas. The prevailing assessment was that the rugged mountainous terrain along Venezuela's northern coastline would make aircraft carrier-based operations difficult. However, all these predictions proved to be wrong.

The U.S. success was the result of meticulous preparation. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) deployed a large number of agents starting in August of last year to gather intelligence within Venezuela. By utilizing stealth drones, they completely evaded radar detection and tracked key military facilities and President Maduro's movements. Evidence also emerged suggesting that Venezuelan military commanders were bribed.

From October of last year, 20,000 U.S. troops began gathering in the Caribbean, but at the time, there was skepticism about whether this force could strike at Venezuela's leadership. Although Venezuela was suffering from an economic crisis, it was not considered a country weak enough for its leader to be captured by a force of just 20,000, even taking the military gap with the United States into account.

The decisive factor was America's electronic warfare capability. Electronic warfare missiles mounted on EA-18G Growler and F-35 fighter jets detected enemy radar and air defense system signals the moment they were activated, striking those locations with pinpoint accuracy. Before launching a surprise attack at 2 a.m., the U.S. military first neutralized Venezuela's power facilities and communication networks. With air defense systems and radars unable to operate, the Venezuelan military was left in disarray.

In addition, the latest military AI systems enabled real-time situational awareness and rapid operational adjustments, allowing for swift attacks. In contrast, Venezuela possessed the hardware-air defense missiles and radars from China and Russia-but its communication and power networks, as well as its command structure, were excessively outdated. Without the software to properly utilize the latest weaponry, Venezuela's military capabilities were rendered powerless.

Collapse of Trust in Chinese and Russian Air Defense... Concerns in North Korea and Iran

The port of La Guaira, Venezuela, caught fire due to a U.S. airstrike on the 3rd (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News

This incident has severely damaged international trust in Chinese and Russian air defense systems. Until now, air defense and radar systems from China and Russia had been considered on par with American counterparts, leading many countries to adopt them. However, seeing Venezuela's air defense network breached with ease by the U.S. military has raised serious doubts about these weapons systems.

There is still no clear evidence of mechanical defects in the Chinese and Russian-made air defense missiles and radars. However, the mere fact that the United States subdued Venezuela so easily has drawn heavy criticism. Even considering America's electronic warfare capabilities, advanced artificial intelligence systems, and stealth technology, the fact that the air defense system provided by China and Russia offered virtually no resistance is a shocking outcome.

This has led to questions about the fundamental military technological capabilities of China and Russia. Countries that have imported weapons from these nations are now worried about their ability to defend themselves in an emergency. There are growing concerns that the scenario seen in Venezuela could be repeated in other countries such as Iran and North Korea. Iran is currently considered the most anxious country.

After the operation's success, President Trump issued warnings to anti-U.S. countries in South America such as Colombia during a press conference, but analysis suggests Iran is the most likely next target. In June of last year, the United States bombed Iran's nuclear facilities with bunker-buster bombs and has already neutralized much of Iran's air defense network. It is reported that the U.S. military has identified the locations of most of Iran's military installations.

Like Venezuela, Iran's terrain transitions from coastal areas to mountainous regions, making regime change attempts challenging. However, observers believe that the United States, having overcome similar terrain in Venezuela, has gained significant confidence. Iran has also imported major air defense systems and weapons from Russia and China, but its operational infrastructure is outdated. If a similar operation is conducted, Iran could suffer the same fate as Venezuela.

The same concerns apply to North Korea. Although it is equipped with radars and interceptor missiles, there are fears that its supreme leader could be captured if these systems fail to operate and the country is isolated. Countries previously labeled by the United States as the "Axis of Evil" are now under significant psychological pressure.

International Backlash... U.S. Struggles with Post-Operation Issues

Reuters Yonhap News

Although the U.S. operation was successful, it is facing criticism from the international community regarding its justification and post-operation management. The United States stated that President Maduro was arrested on drug trafficking charges, but the indictment was actually filed in 2020 and most of the evidence is classified intelligence, making it difficult to disclose. Maduro himself claims he has never engaged in drug trafficking.

An even greater issue is that five years ago, U.S. prosecutors indicted Maduro as the leader of Venezuela's largest drug cartel, "Cartel of the Sun," but it turned out that this organization does not actually exist in Venezuela and the name was used as slang. This part was omitted from the current indictment, inevitably fueling criticism about the lack of justification.

The post-operation handling is also controversial. In the past, U.S. administrations indirectly supported the establishment of new governments centered on pro-democracy or pro-American figures after regime collapse. However, the Trump administration left Maduro's regime in place and appointed the vice president as interim president. President Trump also distanced himself from opposition leader Machado, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, leading to growing dissatisfaction.

Ultimately, it appears that the United States intends to use interim President Desi Rodriguez as a puppet regime to secure oil resources and then proceed with regime change as needed. If this approach succeeds, there are concerns that the U.S. may continue to pursue regime change in other anti-American countries in a similar manner. This has drawn criticism for being no different from the behavior of Western imperialist powers in the 19th century. The latest actions of the United States, which claims to champion human rights and freedom, are provoking backlash from the international community and are expected to spark considerable controversy within the United States as well.