Russia and China Attempts to Ruin America through Venesuela Government

Russia's Attempt to Ruin America

Russia’s support for Venezuela wasn’t usually framed by Moscow as “ruin America,” but U.S. officials and many analysts saw it as Russia helping Caracas resist U.S. pressure and keep a hostile-to-Washington government afloat in the Western Hemisphere.

Here’s what Russia provided (with the clearest, documented examples and dates):

1) Weapons, air defense, and military support

Arms purchases financed by Russian loans (mid-2000s–2009): Venezuela became Russia’s biggest arms customer in the region, buying major systems with Russian financing. Universidad de Navarra+1
2009: ~$2B Russian loan for arms (Reuters reported the loan tied to purchases like tanks and advanced air defenses). Reuters
Military “specialists/advisers” deployed (2019): Reuters reported Russia sent “specialists” to Venezuela under military cooperation arrangements, which the U.S. publicly warned about. Reuters+1
Private security contractors (2019): Reuters reported Kremlin-linked contractors associated with the Wagner network helped guard Maduro. Reuters+1

2) Strategic military signaling near the U.S.

Strategic bomber visits: Russia flew Tu-160 bombers to Venezuela in 2008, 2013, and Dec 2018—high-visibility deployments widely interpreted as “messaging” to Washington. Military Times+1

3) Money lifelines: loans + debt restructuring

Debt restructuring (Nov 2017): Russia restructured $3.15B of Venezuelan debt over 10 years with minimal payments early—effectively giving Caracas breathing room. Reuters+1
Loans/credit since 2006: Reporting and analysis describe Russia (government + Rosneft) as a “lender of last resort,” with multi-billion support over time. Voice of America+1

4) Oil-sector backing that helped Venezuela keep exporting under sanctions

Rosneft investments/advances: Reuters calculated Rosneft poured about $9B into Venezuela projects since 2010 (and sought repayment through oil flows/structures). Reuters
Keeping oil moving after U.S. sanctions (2019): Reuters reported Rosneft trading units handled a large share of Venezuela’s exports in 2019, helping PDVSA continue shipments when many buyers avoided it. Reuters
Supplying diluents like naphtha (2019 and again in 2025): Venezuela needs diluents to blend extra-heavy crude. Reuters reporting shows Russian naphtha exports to Venezuela (notably discussed again in Dec 2025). Reuters+2Reuters+2

5) Diplomatic cover against U.S. action

UN Security Council veto (Feb 2019): Russia (with China) vetoed a U.S.-drafted UNSC resolution on Venezuela. Security Council Report+1

The “so what” (in plain terms)

Russia helped Venezuela survive longer by providing:

hard power (weapons, advisers, security),
financial oxygen (loans + debt relief),
oil logistics and inputs (trading + naphtha/diluents),
international protection (UN actions),

…all of which blunted U.S. leverage and made it harder for U.S. policy to isolate Maduro. Reuters+2Reuters+2

China's Attempt to Ruin America

What China did for Venezuela

1) Gave Venezuela huge oil-backed financing (the “oil-for-loans” lifeline)

Starting in 2007, China (especially China Development Bank) set up large joint funds/loan facilities where Venezuela repaid with oil shipments. The Dialogue+1
Multiple credible trackers (Inter-American Dialogue–based work) put Chinese lending to Venezuela at ~$62B+ over the 2000s–2010s (depending on the date range used). The Dialogue+2Americas Quarterly+2
Example of the later phase: in 2015, Maduro announced a $5B disbursement from a $10B oil-backed facility. China Global Development Dashboard

Why that mattered to the U.S.: it helped Caracas stay afloat financially when markets and later sanctions cut off normal funding.

2) Kept buying Venezuelan crude (and helped it keep moving even when sanctioned)

China was a major outlet for Venezuelan heavy crude for years, including during sanction periods, often through trading/renaming/re-routing tactics that show up repeatedly in sanctions-evasion reporting. Reuters+1

Why that mattered to the U.S.: oil exports are Venezuela’s main cash engine—buyers reduce U.S. leverage.

3) Gave diplomatic cover against U.S. pressure

U.S. government reporting notes that in UN discussions, Russia and (to a lesser extent) China supported Maduro, contributing to blocked/ineffective UN action. EveryCRSReport

Why that mattered to the U.S.: it reduced international isolation and helped Maduro resist regime-change pressure.

4) Provided “state control” technology (ZTE + the Fatherland Card)

Reuters documented that China’s ZTE helped Venezuela build the “Carnet de la Patria” system—a national ID/social benefits platform that can be used to monitor and pressure citizens. Reuters
Think tanks and U.S. testimony describe it as part of a broader “digital authoritarian” toolkit that strengthened the regime’s internal control. CSIS+1

Why that mattered to the U.S.: stronger internal control made Maduro harder to dislodge and reduced the effectiveness of external pressure.

A simple timeline

2007–2010: China–Venezuela joint funds / big oil-backed credit ramps up. The Dialogue+1
2014–2015: After the oil price crash, China still provides major financing; 2015 includes a $10B oil-backed facility with a $5B first disbursement reported. China Global Development Dashboard+1
2016–2019: China remains a key crude outlet; sanctions-evasion tactics around shipping/trading show up in reporting. Reuters+1
2018: Reuters exposes ZTE’s role in the Fatherland Card system. Reuters

So, “how did this undermine America” (in practical terms)?

Money + oil outlet = less U.S. leverage.
Diplomatic backing = less international isolation.
Control tech = Maduro stayed in power longer, making U.S. pressure less effective. EveryCRSReport+2Reuters+2