Trump’s Venezuela attack could create openings for Russia and China, analysts say

After attacking Venezuela and seizing its head of state, President Trump said on Saturday that the country had been “hosting foreign adversaries” and asserted that “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again.” Analysts said the assault, aimed in part at countries that built close ties to Nicolás Maduro, could give Russia and China justification to use force elsewhere.

Both Moscow and Beijing have deep investments in Venezuela: Russia sent nuclear-capable bombers as a show of force in 2018 and ratified a “strategic partnership” last October, while China upgraded ties to an “all-weather” friendship in 2023 and has loaned more than $100 billion to Venezuela over the last quarter-century.

So far, China and Russia have condemned the U.S. attack but have not threatened to defend Mr. Maduro. At an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, both countries demanded the release of Mr. Maduro and his wife and called for a halt to any further U.S. military action; China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said no country could “act as the world’s police,” and Russia’s U.N.

ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, described the United States as trying “to rear its head once again.” Analysts quoted in reporting said Mr. Trump’s actions create uncertainty that Moscow and Beijing may seek to exploit.

Key Topics

World, Donald Trump, Venezuela, China, Russia, Nicolas Maduro