On May 19, 2024, the Venezuelan National Guard added two restored variants of the French AMX-VCI armored combat vehicles (an AMX-13M56-VTT/VCI armored infantry combat vehicle and an AMX-13M56VTT/TB ambulance) to its units in Puerto La Cruz, Anzoátegui. This initiative began in mid-2022, with fifty units transferred from the Venezuelan Army to the National Guard, as part of a strategy to boost Venezuela’s fourth military component amid sanctions and trade blockades.
Venezuela has struggled to maintain its Western combat systems due to international sanctions limiting access to spare parts and technical support. These sanctions, led by the United States and supported by other Western countries, have targeted various sectors of the Venezuelan economy, including defense, leading to a shortage of necessary components and maintenance services.
The AMX-VCI, a variant of the AMX-13 light tank developed by France in the early 1950s, was designed as an armored personnel carrier (APC) and evolved into specialized versions for various military needs. Used by multiple countries, Venezuela acquired these vehicles in the early 1970s to enhance its armored brigade capabilities, using them for roles such as infantry transport, command posts, medical evacuation, and artillery support.