The humiliating fate of the Russian forces in Venezuela

Russia’s presence in Venezuela was long portrayed as proof of Moscow’s global reach and loyalty to its partners under pressure. Behind the rhetoric, however, that presence rested on expediency, sidelined personnel, and minimal political risk rather than genuine commitment. As the war in Ukraine drained resources and attention, distant alliances became increasingly transactional and expendable. Venezuela, despite years of strategic declarations, was treated less as a vital partner and more as a peripheral outpost managed on the cheap. This dynamic created a fragile security structure built on appearances rather than resolve. When external pressure finally peaked, the gap between Russian promises and Russian actions became impossible to hide.

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