Hemisphere watchRussia's ties to Venezuela give it “nuisance power” over the U.S.
As the political standoff in Venezuela escalates, Moscow has become increasingly ardent in its support for embattled socialist President Nicolas Maduro since Washington and other capitals recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to being Venezuela’s interim leader. “Establishing close relations with Venezuela gives Moscow a certain nuisance power in relation to the United States, and that can be used as a bargaining chip in future dealings with the United States. It also can be kind of a showcase for Russia’s aspirations to be considered a global power,” says a Latin America expert.
As the political standoff in Venezuela escalates, Moscow has become increasingly ardent in its support for embattled socialist President Nicolas Maduro since Washington and other capitals recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to being Venezuela’s interim leader.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov — whose country considers Caracas a “strategic partner” and which has some $20 billion in loans and investments in the country — said on 24 January that the United States was “trying to act as the ruler of other people’s destinies” by “meddling in their domestic affairs,” while other Russian officials cautioned Washington not to intervene militarily.
Robert Coalson, a senior correspondent for RFE/RL who covers Russia, the Balkans, and Eastern Europe, asked Mikael Wigell, a senior research fellow specializing in Latin America at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, to outline what is at stake for Moscow in the unfolding crisis in Venezuela.
Robert Coalson: Could you give us an idea of the main elements of the “strategic partnership” between Russia and Venezuela?
Wigell: Historically, they don’t have a very close relationship. It is really only in the last 15 years or so that they have started to develop this relationship. From Venezuela’s side, it has to do with its leaders’ anti-Americanism and accelerating authoritarianism, for which it sought support. [The late] Presidents Hugo Chavez and Maduro have generally been quite keen to ally themselves with authoritarian regimes that don’t demand adherence to human rights and democracy — and that oppose the United States.
For Russia’s part, it has to do with balancing against the United States and also with certain economic interests. In practice, the relationship has revolved around Russia supplying Venezuela with arms and loans in exchange for assets, especially in Venezuela’s oil and gas sectors.
