Lower Thirds: 
0:03	Report by Nicholas Counter
0:55	Vladimir Rouvinski | Political Scientist, Icesi University Cali
1:49	Vladimir Rouvinski | Political Scientist, Icesi University Cali
2:37	Vladimir Rouvinski | Political Scientist, Icesi University Cali

( info: With the United States’ removal of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, Russia has lost an ally in Latin America. For more than two decades, Moscow enjoyed strong relations with Caracas but ultimately did nothing to stop the US attack. With the United States saying it will now run Venezuela, what consequences will this have for Russia? DW’s Nick Counter reports.)

Script: 
[Venezuelan military parade, tanks, SAMs]
Billions of dollars in military equipment. 
And none of it made a difference.
[Archive footage Russian military equipment in Venezuelan exercises]
Since the early 2000s, Russia has been Venezuela’s biggest source of arms , providing fighter jets, tanks, and anti-aircraft missiles.
[2025 meeting of Maduro and Putin in Moscow, handshake, signing of deal]
Along with the weapons was also the promise that Russia would come to the South American country’s rescue in the event of an attack by the West.
Just last year, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro joined Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow to sign a renewed defense pact. 
[US bombing of Caracas]
But when the United States bombed the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and kidnapped Maduro, neither Russia, nor those defense systems were of any help.
[US Coast Guard intercepts Russian-flagged tanker]
And just a few days later, Russia was unable to stop the US from seizing an oil tanker seemingly carrying its flag, even after saying it deployed a submarine to intercept.

[Zoom interview recording]
[Vladimir Rouvinski, Director of Interdisciplinary Research Center at Icesi University, Colombia]
“When they made those statements, they firmly believed that it would never happen, that the United States would never attack Venezuela… In terms of logistics, it would be impossible for Russia to mobilize anything quickly to do something about the US… It would be suicide for Russians to do anything about this. I think Russians would not risk a third world war because of Venezuela.”

[Putin in Syria alongside Assad, Russian military vehicles in Syria, rebel forces taking Damascus]
In 2024, Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebel forces after more than a decade of civil war. 
Putin had promised to defend his Arab counterpart, but in the end failed to do so – like Maduro.
[Nick in office speaking with Rouvinski]
Does Putin see the loss of these allies as a threat to his power, or can he benefit in some way?

[Zoom interview recording] 
[Rouvinski]  “With the United States heavily involved in the western hemisphere, and perhaps in Iran, the United States would not help Ukraine”; “So for him it’s actually a dream come true: Relations with the United States and Europe collapse, Europe is on its own, and Putin, at least with Ukraine, can have free hands to do things he wants to do. So he in the end might.”

[Venezuelan oil fields, refineries] 
Russia isn’t just losing military allies – its economy could become more threatened.
With the United States looking to take full control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of illegal oil smuggling ships could be threatened.
[Screengrab ABC article headline: ‘Trump demands Venezuela kick out China and Russia, partner only with US on oil’]
And local media has reported that the US is prepared to force Venezuela to sever all economic ties with its overseas partners.
But some experts think it could have little effect on Russia.

[Rouvinski] 
“it would not have a direct impact, at least in the shorter perspective, for the Russian economy. What it is, it’s very symbolic. When Trump was saying we get rid of Russia, that is a very symbolic blow to Russian reputation, to Russian image in Latin America and of course Russia would have to find a way to build something different.”

[Russian flag over the Kremlin, Red Square, Russian missile attacks on Ukraine]
Despite these challenges, Russia has shown its ability to adapt to the loss of another ally.