In Russia, the U.S. operation in Venezuela creates three groups of problems. So far, there are no clear solutions — on the contrary, things will become even more complicated. For us, this operation is entirely a plus.
The first group is political or status-related. The USSR, and later Russia, built its presence in Latin America from the 1950s onward, and there are all indications that these efforts will be wasted — this is a chance to turn the page. After losing Syria, this would mean almost losing the status of a global player and being reduced to a regional one, which is a direct consequence of Russian aggression.
The second group is image-related. Propaganda is one thing, but the world is not naive. Almost everyone will draw parallels between the effective and impactful actions of the U.S. and Russia’s “special military operation.” Moreover, the recent strategic agreement between Russia and Venezuela shows the real value of Russian support.
The third, and in fact the main, group is energy-related. By having good cooperation with Saudi Arabia and control over Venezuela’s oil resources, the U.S. will gain a carte blanche to control oil prices and flows. In other words, the same “cards” that Trump likes to talk about. The only question is how Trump will choose to play them. This is not just about us; if necessary, he could hold them in reserve. There is plenty of work to be done.
