The US capture of Maduro reveals Russia’s weakness
Atlantic Council••world
Key Points:
- The Trump administration's January 3 operation in Venezuela marked a significant blow to the Maduro regime and further damaged Russia's political standing, highlighting the U.S.'s ability to act against Kremlin allies without repercussions.
- Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro sought military support from Russia in October, requesting drones, missiles, and radars, but Moscow did not fulfill these requests, reflecting Russia's limited conventional military capabilities.
- Russia's muted response, including a call from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressing solidarity and demanding Maduro's release, underscores Moscow's stretched military resources and economic strain due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
- Putin prioritizes managing relations with Trump to avoid escalating tensions, especially since Moscow has skillfully avoided new U.S. sanctions and
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