Venezuela's military, the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (Fuerza Armada Nacional Bolivariana), shows no signs of abandoning embattled dictator Nicolas Maduro -- at least, not yet -- despite the defection of an air force general to the opposition and mounting international pressure on it to change sides.
Ideologically left-wing and supposedly socialist in orientation, the armed forces is commanded by generals that have gotten rich through massive corruption abetted by Maduro. One political analyst told the BBC that Maduro has tied the survival of his government to the military leadership by allowing them to participate in massive corruption.
"The military leadership has a lot to lose, "said Brian Fonseca, a defense expert at Florida International University. "Even with provision of amnesty, that doesn't necessarily guarantee amnesty. There have been cases in the past when amnesty was overturned a generation or two later."
Because of this uncertainty, "there is no guarantee that those who have committed repression, corruption or drug trafficking would be off the hook if the opposition comes to power," according to Fonseca.
And while the offer of amnesty might convince some among the armed forces leadership to switch sides, others may not be persuaded, said Fonseca.
The first general officer in active service to desert Maduro and declare his support for interim president Juan Guaido is Venezuelan Air Force General Francisco Yanez, said CNBC. The air force high command immediately accused Gen. Yanez of treason.
Guaido proclaimed himself president on Jan. 23 and was immediately supported by the United States and most of the members of the Organization of American States.
In addition to Yanez, Venezuela's chief military attaché to the United States, Colonel José Luis Silva, last week also said he was defecting and declared his loyalty to Guiado.
"People of Venezuela, 90 percent of the armed forces of Venezuela are not with the dictator, they are with the people of Venezuela," said Yanez in the video. "Already the transition to democracy is imminent."
During an opposition rally in Caracas, Guaido told supporters he expected more senior military officers to follow Yanez's example. He has offered the military and public officials amnesty if they defect to him.
"I am certain many officials and soldiers will repeat this gesture, very soon, very soon," said Guaido.
Guaido said the opposition would stop its street protests until Maduro stepped down and allowed free elections. The self-proclaimed president, however, has no control over government institutions but relies on the anger among Venezuelans impoverished by hyperinflation and a lack of food and basic services to fuel his movement to oust Maduro.
Apart from the United States, Canada and several Latin American nations have already officially recognized Guaido. Some European Union member states said they will officially recognize Guaido next week.
Surprisingly, the armed forces has not moved to either harm or arrest Guaido, a sign that international pressure is staying its hand.
