Russia's Second Wind in Latin America
Abstract
In 2008 Russia generated many headlines by overtly angling for a big role in Latin America s international politics. Although Russian interest in Latin America seemingly waned after that, recent signs suggest Russia is gaining a second wind in Latin America. This new upsurge begins from that 2008 baseline. Although it utilizes the same instruments of arms sales and energy exploration, Moscow appears to have refocused its priorities without sacrificing its friends in Caracas and Havana. Thus, this new campaign validates President Dmitry Medvedev s 2008 remarks that Russia was only beginning to upgrade its ties with Latin America, which he and other officials recognize as a growing presence in world affairs. He further emphasized that Russia would undertake comprehensive and multidimensional relations with Latin America. So we should not expect a full Russian retreat from Latin America, even if its foreign policy retrenches. Instead, further advances and, to be frank, anti-American probes, should be expected. Indeed, Russian policy is not driven by Latin America s views, but by classical desires for profit and influence, mainly at the expense of the United States, and a visceral anti- Americanism. Analysts like Fedor Lukyanov, Vladimir Shlapentokh and Leonid Radzhikhovky all attest to the virtually obsessive anti-Americanism that drives much ofRussian foreign policy. Indeed, powerful people like Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin, Premier Vladimir Putin s right-hand man, apparently want to conduct a Latin American policy of anti-Americanism and destabilization regardless of the consequences. Sechin reportedly promoted economic deals and arms sales to Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, and the formation among these three of an alliance as Moscow considers the formation of such a union a worthy response to U.S. activity in the former Soviet Union and the placement of missile defenses in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 18, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA548735
Entities
People
- Stephen Blank
Organizations
- United States Army War College