First Syria, then Iran, and now Venezuela. Slowly, but surely, Vladimir Putin’s Hopes of Creating an Alternative Network of Alliances to Challenge American Hegemony is Disintegrating.
Syria, where Putin Succeeded in turning the Country into a Client State following Russia’s Military Intervention during the Civil War, is now Run by an Islamist Regime that has Little Interest in Maintaining Ties with Moscow. So long as Putin continues to Provide a Safe Haven for Deposed Dictator Bashar al-Assad in Moscow, Russia’s Ability to Maintain the Two Strategic Military Bases on the Syrian Coast Remains in Doubt. The Russian Navy has already been Forced to Withdraw All its Ships from the Tartus Naval Base it established under Assad, while Doubts remain over the Future of the Hmeimim Air Base Close to Latakia.
Similarly, the “comprehensive strategic partnership” Putin Signed with the Ayatollahs Last January, 2025, a move Designed to Consolidate the Kremlin’s Alliance with Tehran, now lies in Tatters after the Russians proved Incapable of Defending their Ally during Last Summer’s War with Israel and the U.S. A Key Element of the Deal was Russia’s Commitment to Protect Iran in the Event of it facing External Threats. Yet, when Israeli and American Warplanes Attacked Iran’s Key Military and Nuclear Infrastructure in June, the Russians were Nowhere to be seen.
The Subsequent Collapse of the Iranian Economy, with the Rial, the National Currency, Losing Half of its Value in the Past year, is the Direct Result of Iran’s National Uumiliation in that Conflict, and means that Tehran is No Longer in a Position to Support Moscow’s War effort in Ukraine.
At a time when Putin is already Suffering the Loss of Two Key Allies, in His Quest to establish a Rival Power Axis to the U.S., the Overthrow of Venezuelan Dictator Nicolás Maduro will only Add to the Russian Despot’s Woes.
For the past Two Decades, Putin has worked steadily to Build Moscow’s Military and Trade Ties with Caracas as Part of a Deliberate Attempt to Extend the Kremlin’s Sphere of Influence into America’s Backyard. It is estimated that Moscow has Sold more than $20bn of Weapons and Military Equipment to Venezuela’s Chavist Regime, while Russian Corporations have Benefitted from Special Trade Terms.
An Added Bonus of Putin’s Long-Standing Support for Maduro, was that it Helped to Sustain the Anti-American Regimes in Cuba and Nicaragua, with Caracas Supplying them with Everything they Need, from Oil to Food.
China, a Country Putin sees as a Key Partner in His Burgeoning Axis of Autocratic Powers, also Enjoyed Close Ties with the Maduro Regime. Now that the Chavist Era in Venezuela has Finally Drawn to a Close, following Trump’s (R) Dramatic Military Intervention at the Weekend, Russia faces the Very Real Prospect of Witnessing the Collapse of All Three of their Latin American Allies.
Viewed from this Context, Trump’s Decision to Remove Maduro looks more like a Geopolitical Masterstroke than simply a Brazen Bid to Seize Control of Venezuela’s Oil Riches. With Maduro and His Wife Safely Locked up in a NYC Brooklyn Jail, Caracas’s Ability to Function as an Epicentre for Anti-U.S. Activity for Russia and China has Ended.
At a Stroke, Trump has Exposed the Impotence of Putin’s Attempts to turn His Global Network of Anti-Western Alliances into a Meaningful Force. Moreover, coming at a time when the Russian Leader is under Enormous Pressure to Sign-Up to Trump’s Peace Plan for Ukraine, the Collapse of former Allies in: Damascus, Tehran, and now Caracas, gives Him Little Room for Manoeuvre.
Putin’s current Plight stands in Stark Contrast to the High Point of the Russian Leader’s attempts to Forge His New Power Axis in the Aftermath of His Decision to Launch His so-called “Special Military Operation” to Subjugate Ukraine in February 2022.
While Syria, then still a Russian Client State under the Assad Dictatorship, was Among Five Countries that Voted against the UN Resolution Condemning Moscow’s Invasion of Ukraine and Seizure of Ukrainian Territory, 35 Countries, including India, Iran, and South Africa Abstained, providing Putin with a Welcome Diplomatic Boost. Venezuela, which was already Suffering under Maduro’s Oppressive Dictatorship, did Not even bother to Participate in the Proceedings.
Apart from Confirming the UN’s Increasing Irrelevance in World Affairs, the Fact that such a Significant Number of Countries Failed to Condemn Putin’s Blatant Land Grab in Ukraine left the Russian Leader believing that Balance of World Power was Gradually Shifting in His Favour.
No Longer. If any Lesson is to be Drawn from Trump’s Military Intervention in Venezuela, it is that the U.S. under His Leadership is Not Prepared to Surrender an inch of its Traditional Sphere of Iinfluence.
Whether it Involves Latin America or the Arctic, where the Trump Administration has already made Clear its Determination to Resist any Attempt by Russia or China to establish a Foothold in Greenland, Trump’s Venezuelan Adventure has Signalled His Resolve to Protect Washington’s Interests at All Costs.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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