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Russia has invested years of effort and billions of dollars to make Venezuela one of its closest allies of the Western Hemisphere. Thursday (24), Moscow was upset by the prospect that its investment could turn into smoke.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the opposition to Nicolas Maduro was becoming "pawns in the very dirty and criminal game of someone else" ". Vyacheslav Volodin, president of the lower house of parliament, said that in Venezuela "people are appointed street chiefs in the street". Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said that "attempts to seize power in Venezuela are illegitimate and contrary to international law."
Even by Russian standards, it was a day of furious comments that called the United States a sinister manipulator of puppets that illegally favors regime changes around the world. But behind the outrage was an uncomfortable reality: a multi-billion dollar bet to reinforce Russia's influence in Latin America suddenly seemed to want to sink quickly.
Dmitry Rozental, academic at the Latin American Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pointed out the increased risk of instability increased that Russia lost a total investment in the Venezuelan economy of nearly $ 25 billion. If the leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó – recognized by the United States on Wednesday as acting president – takes power, said Rozental, the political and military contacts between Moscow and Caracas would certainly decrease.
At the same time, said Rozental, a central question remained unanswered: would Guaidó distance himself very strongly from Russia's friendly policy towards Maduro?
"If the pragmatic approach prevails, then I do not think that they will fight with a partner as important as Russia," Rozental said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently became the boss of Venezuela and took the opportunity to attack the United States in the meantime. In exchange for loans and repayments, Russia now has a significant portion of at least five oil deposits in Venezuela, which holds the largest reserves in the world, in addition to the equivalent of 30 years of future production. two natural gas fields in the Caribbean.
Read more: As tensions between Venezuela and the United States intensify, Russia warns of American "intervention"
Loans and Lines Russia's credit has totaled at least 17 billion US dollars since 2006, the country's lender of last resort, told Reuters. In return, the Russian arms industry has conquered a multibillion-dollar customer, while Putin has gained a new influence on global energy sources and a center of influence under the influence of the world. Russian influence just three hours flight from Miami.
As if to eliminate all doubt, two Russian long-range nuclear-powered Tu-160 bombers landed at an airport near Caracas in December. The symbolism is important because the rise of a Russia that defends its global interests is a key element of the Putin brand in his country.
Now the Venezuelan Kremlin's bet is at stake. This week, Putin's opponents in Russia quickly seized the opportunity to say that it was a lost cause .
The Venezuelan revolution means that billions of dollars "of our money invested in this country will disappear," opposition activist Alexei Navalny told Twitter. In a few months, Navalny added, Maduro will certainly have a mansion in the residential neighborhoods of Rublyovka district in Moscow, favorite of the Russian ruling elite.
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