The capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces presents challenges for Russia and China, both of which had close ties to his regime. Russia has remained largely silent on the intervention, prioritizing its war in Ukraine and ongoing ceasefire negotiations with the U.S.

For China, the intervention raises concerns about financial losses from Venezuelan debts, the potential loss of a geostrategic partner in Latin America, and uncertainty about its broader economic and diplomatic relationships in the region as the U.S. seeks privileged access to natural resources.

The fall of Nicolás Maduro, says Professor of Political Science Brian Taylor, is no less embarrassing for Russia, which sold more than $20 billion worth of military equipment to Caracas from 2000 to 2015, according to an estimate by the China Global South Project.

“This is the fourth time in a few years that Russia has seen an ally undermined and has to swallow the snake,” notes Taylor, who mentions, in addition to Venezuela, the fall of the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad, the seizure of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave by Azerbaijan from Armenia as well as the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities carried out by the United States and Israel last summer.

Read more in the La Presse article, “What to expect from Russia and China?”