The Russian incursion in the Latinamerican region

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The presence of Russia on the Latin American continent puts the United States on alert

It is not a secret that Russia's presence in Latin America has always been present. Since the Cold War, the Soviet Union saw in Cuba an important and strategic point to face its enemy, the United States. The Soviet Union turned out to be the savior for the Cuba of the communist regime, that's how the island was protected for several years until the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1990.

Leer en español: Lento pero seguro: la incursión rusa en la región

However, nine years later the presence of the Russian giant once again reached Latin America. This time from the hand of Venezuela. According to the document, Russia in Latin America: variables, implications and perspectives of its presence in the Western Hemisphere, it is stated that "From 1999 and with the arrival of Hugo Chávez to the presidential power in Venezuela, the Venezuelan-Russian relations they take a turn toward establishing a strategic partnership between these two countries, although Russia has never expressed an explicit interest in creating such a close status with Venezuela, despite Chávez's 9 visits to Moscow and the 63 cooperation agreements signed during his presidency."

However, it is from the arrival of Vladimir Putin that visits Latin America increased and in 2013 certain clauses were issued that emphasize the Russian geo-strategic interest in the region. Then, Russia "aims to focus more strongly on the expansion of political interactions, on promoting trade and direct and indirect mutual investments, governmental and private, as well as cooperating more closely in the fields of culture, education, scientific innovation. technological and humanitarian aid", concludes the same article.

Another point in favor of Russia's interest is the loss of attention from the United States, which since the 2001 attacks focused on the Middle East war; and of the European Union. Recently, and with the return of the right to the governments of a large part of Latin America, it would be thought that relations with Russia could take a back seat, but Putin's goals in the region go beyond ideology. For some time now, Russia has been creating connections to help in matters other than the economy, such as transport, nuclear energy, aerospace, weapons and equipment, natural resources, biotechnological undertakings, as reported by MarcoTrade News.

On the other hand, The Wall Street Journal published an article that states that Russia "prevents the realization of the interests of the United States through the destabilization of liberal democracy." In addition, the presence of Russia in Latin America in strategic countries such as Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, allows "a regional platform to focus on the facilities and assets of the United States and partner nations," as Kurt Tidd points out in a Committee of American senators.

On the other hand, the former vice president of the United States, Joe Biden, also sent a warning signal against the vacuum of his country in Latin American affairs, stating that "our disconnection occurs while others are advancing." In the same way, Biden affirms that it is important that the United States return to assume its role of leader in the region.

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Russia and Latin America

At the beginning of the month of December, Venezuela and Russia closed an agreement for $ 6,000 million dollars. This in order for the European power to invest in the oil and mining sectors. According to President Nicolás Maduro in the oil sector, the objective is to create mixed companies that help the growth of this resource in the country.

On the other hand, in Argentina and in the framework of the G20 summit it was highlighted that the level of Russian investment in the country increased by 25% and that exports of Russian products exceeded the figure of 56%, as indicated by Sputnik. In addition, the Argentine president, Mauricio Macri highlighted the number of meetings of these two leaders over three years.

In the face of relations with Nicaragua, the Friendship Day was recently celebrated between the Central American country and Russia. Thus, the closeness between these two countries was highlighted as Russia expressed solidarity with the Nicaraguan government before the coup attempt in April, reports the Nuevo Herald.

Although these are only some of the cases in which Russia is venturing IGNORE INTO Latin American projects, it does show the interest that this country has in supplying the role that the United States had in the region. It should be noted that what the current US government has done is to put more obstacles in this region.

LatinAmerican Post | Laura Viviana Guevara Muñoz

Translated from "Lento pero seguro: la incursión rusa en la región"