Description: Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a TV – broadcasted phone call pledged to expand strategic ties between the two countries in light of recent tightening US sanctions. US President Donald Trump has recently revamped sanctions against Venezuela with oil giant Chevron leaving the domestic market causing a wide economic gap in the Caribbean country. Maduro was re – elected as Venezuela’s President in the controversial elections in Jul 2024, after which the country experienced massive protests which were rapidly suppressed by the leftist authoritarian regime. Despite US sanctions, Venezuela is under pressure of accepting deported Venezuelans from the US, as President Maduro refused to accept the plane with deported individuals in Jan which was strongly criticized by US President Donald Trump.
Impact: South America is once again becoming a key geopolitical playing field between Russia and the US, with the latter adopting a unilateral conditioning foreign policy to the region, possibly backtracking years of influence and regional dominance. Russia would aim at exploiting the combative stance between the US and several South American countries to reassert their regional presence and develop future strategic ties. Venezuela is one of the countries caught up in Trump’s aggressive foreign policy crosshairs and under constant pressure from US sanctions, being naturally and strategically aligned with Russia would exploit their position in expanding multilateral ties. Chevron’s exit from the country severely weakens Venezuela’s export economy as the global largest oil deposit, which could be concessioned to state- or privately-owned companies from Russia, in light of the strengthening of strategic ties between the countries.