Many countries including China and Russia have reacted sharply to the US action on Venezuela and the arrest of President Maduro.
Venezuela Crisis: Many countries including China and Russia have reacted sharply to the US military action on the South American country Venezuela and the arrest of President Maduro and his wife. Everyone says that this is an attack on a sovereign nation. There is a violation of territorial integrity. Recently, American soldiers carried out air strikes on some major cities including military bases in Venezuela and arrested the Venezuelan President and his wife.
In such a situation, some natural questions are being raised that why are China and Russia standing directly with Venezuela? Are both the countries harboring animosity towards America, or are deeper diplomatic and economic strategies working behind it? Let us know in detail.
Venezuela has remained a major arena of global politics for the last few years. Amidst the economic crisis, political instability and American pressure, on one hand Washington gives open support to the opposition groups, while on the other hand Russia and China are seen openly standing with the current government of Venezuela. In particular, whenever America takes any aggressive step in the form of military intervention, economic sanctions or political pressure, Russia and China have been sharply criticizing it. The latest criticism appears to be taking the same old trend forward.
principled opposition to US policy
Both Russia and China have been publicly saying for a long time that only the citizens of that country have the right to change the government of any sovereign country, not any external power. Russia and China consider the tradition of changing governments by direct or indirect intervention in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria and many Latin American countries as a dangerous example for themselves.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
In their view, if the US intervention in Venezuela is successful, it will become the principle that whenever any government’s policies are not to Washington’s liking, it should be forced to bend through economic sanctions, political isolation and military pressure. Both Russia and China want to protect themselves from any such future situation, so they strongly criticize American attacks and interference at the level of principle.
attempt at a multipolar world order
After the end of the Cold War, America continued to see itself as the only superpower. It maintained global leadership through international institutions, a dollar-based financial system, and military alliances. Russia and China want to challenge this unipolar system and create a multi-polar world, where power is divided among many centres. Supporting a country like Venezuela is part of this strategy. When Russia and China strongly criticize American attacks or sanctions, they send a message to the whole world that American orders are not final.
They want to show that weak or besieged countries are not alone, they have alternative partners and support systems. This increases the credibility of Russia and China in those countries which are dissatisfied with America or feel insecure under its pressure.
Energy resources and economic interests
Venezuela is among the countries with the largest proven oil reserves in the world. Even though its economy is in crisis, its oil resources are very important in the long term. Russian oil and gas companies have invested in Venezuela. Russia also has the advantage that if US sanctions cut off Venezuela from the western market, it will give priority to selling oil at concessional rates to friendly countries like Russia and China. This gives Russia a strategic partner in the energy market and creates alternative supply chains despite pressure from the West. China is the world’s largest energy importer. It wants long-term energy security for itself and is building a network of diverse sources.
China has built a kind of interdependent relationship with Venezuela through loans, investments and oil purchases. As US pressure increases, China becomes an even more important partner for Venezuela, and China gets oil at cheap or favorable terms for a long time. In this way, while criticizing American attacks, Russia and China are actually protecting their economic and energy interests.
America arrested Maduro.
Attempt to create alternatives to dollar based sanctions
America’s biggest tool is economic sanctions, which often prove extremely effective because of the world’s dependence on the dollar and the American financial system. Russia and China understand very well that today it is Venezuela, tomorrow they themselves may face similar sanctions on a larger scale. That is why both of them together are preparing such options so that no country has to completely depend on the American financial system. Alternative payment systems, the use of local currencies in bilateral trade, and new arrangements parallel to international institutions are all efforts to limit America’s economic grip.
When US sanctions are imposed on Venezuela and Russia and China criticize them and provide alternative trade or credit lines, they not only help Venezuela, but also show the world that US sanctions can be partially neutralized.
Opportunity to increase political influence in Latin America
Latin America is traditionally considered America’s backyard. From the Monroe Doctrine to the Cold War and beyond, America tried to give advantage to governments of its choice through military coups, covert action and economic pressure. Russia and China want to increase their political presence in this region. By establishing close relations with countries like Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Russia and China indicate that Latin America will no longer remain only in America’s sphere of influence. China is strengthening its economic roots in the region by investing in infrastructure, rail, roads, ports and telecommunications projects.
Russia is making its presence felt through military cooperation, security agreements and strategic partnerships. Supporting Venezuela in times of US attack or pressure and criticizing the military or political action being taken against it is part of this broader strategy.
Xi Jinping
Domestic Politics and Global Image Management
Anti-Western or at least anti-American tendencies are quite strong in the domestic politics of both Russia and China. There is widespread distrust in Russia towards US leadership regarding NATO expansion, the Ukraine crisis and post-Cold War policies. China feels challenged all around by American military presence, Taiwan question, trade war and technological restrictions. In such an environment, if by criticizing the US military attack on a country like Venezuela, Russia and China send a message to their domestic supporters that their governments stand against American dominance on the global stage. This strengthens their internal legitimacy and enables them to present themselves as independent and strong nations, unwilling to bow down to any pressure.
Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Is it just hostility towards America?
At first glance it may seem that Russia is supporting China and Venezuela only because they are against America. But the reality is more complex than this. Confrontation with America is an important part of his policy. At the same time, economic interests, energy security, multipolar world order, alternatives to sanctions, and domestic politics, all these reasons together inspire them to stand in favor of Venezuela. In other words, Venezuela is not just a small country for Russia and China, but a front where they can challenge America’s global leadership and ensure long-term benefits for themselves.
Russia and China standing up for Venezuela and criticizing US attacks or intervention are not driven by a single cause, but by a combination of layered interests and ideas. They oppose the American policy of external regime change. Want to break the American monopoly by creating a multi-polar global system. He sees long-term benefits from Venezuela’s vast oil reserves and economic prospects. Their efforts to create alternatives to dollar-based sanctions are strengthened by cases like Venezuela. This is an important platform for the growing Russian-Chinese influence in Latin America. Domestically, they are able to portray themselves as forces that refuse to bow down to American pressure.
In this way, Russia and China standing with Venezuela is not just enmity with America, but part of a multi-level diplomatic, economic and ideological strategy. Venezuela has become a symbol of the great conflict in today’s world, where on one side is the old US-led order, and on the other side are powerful countries like Russia and China looking forward to a new multi-polar world.
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