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Venezuela announces latest reorganisation programme
By Inigo Guevara
03 August 2009
As relations with neighbouring Colombia over several issues heat up, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has begun a new military expansion and reorganisation programme.
On 20 July the Venezuelan Air Force's Integrated Aerospace Defence Command (CADAI) and the army's electronic-warfare unit were transferred to the Strategic Operations Command (CEO).
On 24 July Chavez announced further changes designed to 'revolutionise' the current defence doctrine. This includes the activation on new types of units, such as the Rivers Squadron, which will operate from small bases on the country's river and lake systems performing what Chavez described as "water guerrilla warfare". Reserve units will be upgraded to combat battalions.
New 'militia divisions' will be drawn up from organisations such as the Armed Forces' Polytechnic National University (UNEFA), indigenous communities, agricultural unions and workers affiliated to state-run companies: Venezuelan Petroleum and the Sidor steel works.