The Fall of Maduro: How the Collapse in Venezuela Affects Putin's Plans for Ukraine.

According to ТСН: A year ago, the Kremlin confirmed its unwavering support for Nicolas Maduro, establishing Venezuela as an important strategic ally in the Western Hemisphere through a partnership agreement. However, the rapid US special operation that led to the collapse of the Venezuelan regime revealed the weakness of Russian protection. Now that Maduro has been detained in New York, Russian diplomacy is urgently forced to reassess its strategies, trying to turn the failure of its ally into an opportunity for new maneuvers.

Predictably, the Russian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions of Washington. Sergey Lavrov expressed "resolute solidarity" with the acting president Delcy Rodriguez, and the Russian representative at the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, accused the US of "neocolonialism." However, Putin remains silent, unlike Xi Jinping, and has been slow to make personal statements.

This silence contrasts with the excitement of Americans over seizing a ship under the Russian flag. Experts see this as a sign of Moscow's weakness: the fall of Assad's regime in Syria, US strikes against Iran, and the removal of Maduro — this is already the third major defeat for the Kremlin in a short period of time.

The American special forces operation was a serious blow to the reputation of the Russian military-industrial complex. Venezuela had received military equipment for years, including S-300 systems and Buk, and Maduro assured that he had 5,000 anti-aircraft missiles to protect Caracas.

"It seems that these air defense systems did not work very well, did they?"

Although the situation looks uncomfortable, Putin could use it for his own purposes, reinforcing his imperial ambitions. The US recognition of its spheres of influence in Latin America and intentions regarding Greenland give the Kremlin additional trump cards.

With the US intensifying its activities in Greenland, Russia sees a chance to undermine transatlantic unity.

While Maduro prepares for trial, Putin continues to demonstrate resilience on the domestic front. During the Christmas service, he once again called the war against Ukraine a "sacred mission."

Although Maduro in shackles serves as a reminder of unfavorable circumstances for Putin in Ukraine, the Kremlin leader remains true to his policy — in a world of "new gunboat diplomacy," only the strongest survive. Putin continues his "Game of Thrones," believing that force is the only international law.

What Preceded

It is noteworthy that on January 3, the US detained Nicolas Maduro during a special operation in Caracas. American troops captured Maduro and his wife in the middle of the night in their bedroom.

Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are charged in the Southern District of New York with conspiracy to commit drug terrorism, drug trafficking, and possession of weapons and explosives that could be used against the US.

This situation compels the Kremlin to reassess its position in global politics, as the fall of Maduro indicates a possible weakening of Russian influence in Latin America. At the same time, by tracking Washington's reaction, Moscow can adapt its actions to maintain relevance in global affairs.