Venezuela's Allies Reduce Support Amid U.S. Military Pressure
China and Russia have scaled back their support for Venezuela as the U.S. increases military operations in the Caribbean, focusing on counter-narcotics efforts.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is facing diminishing support from key allies China and Russia, as both nations shift their focus to other global priorities. Experts note that while Beijing and Moscow previously provided substantial political, financial, and military backing to Venezuela, their current support appears largely symbolic.
This reduction in support coincides with an intensified U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. The United States has deployed air and naval forces, including a nuclear-powered submarine and approximately 15,000 troops, to the region. These operations have targeted vessels suspected of drug smuggling, resulting in over 80 fatalities. Recently, the U.S. seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast, alleging it was involved in transporting sanctioned oil.
The Trump administration asserts that these military actions aim to combat drug trafficking. However, Maduro and some analysts interpret them as efforts toward regime change. Professor Fernando Reyes Matta from Andrés Bello University in Chile suggests that Venezuela has become a lower priority for both China and Russia, especially given Russia's involvement in Ukraine and China's diplomatic engagements with the U.S.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow has allocated significant resources to the conflict, limiting its capacity to assist allies like Venezuela. Similarly, China appears cautious about jeopardizing recent diplomatic gains with Washington by offering substantial support to Maduro's government.
In late October, Maduro reportedly sought military assistance from both China and Russia. While Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov affirmed support for Venezuela and urged the U.S. to avoid escalating the crisis, Moscow has yet to provide material assistance. China has condemned external interference and called for restraint but has not indicated any intention to offer military support.
Experts believe that China's reluctance to support Maduro stems from concerns about jeopardizing diplomatic progress with the U.S. and the limited benefits of aligning with Venezuela's current government. Additionally, Venezuela's economic decline and deteriorating oil industry have made it a less attractive partner for Beijing, which has reduced new lending and is focused on recovering past loans.
Professor Vladimir Rouvinski from Icesi University in Colombia suggests that China is prepared to negotiate with any future Venezuelan government and views strong support for Maduro as potentially detrimental if the regime falls.
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