Battle Lines Trump's Venezuela gamble: Why China, Russia and Iran just lost their foothold in Latin America
Jan 5, 2026
Adrian Blomfield, a Senior foreign correspondent at The Telegraph, and Dr. Carlos Solar, a Latin America security expert at RUSI, delve into the seismic shifts in Venezuela following Trump's capture of Maduro. They discuss the implications for Iran, Russia, and China, who are now facing significant losses in a key ally. The pair explore the revived relevance of the Monroe Doctrine and debate whether the U.S. is creating a client state in Venezuela. They also touch on how these developments impact global order, with a particular eye on future tensions involving Taiwan and Ukraine.
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Operation Guided By Oil And Influence
- The US operation against Maduro is driven by influence and oil, not democracy.
- Marco Rubio framed Venezuela as the Western Hemisphere where adversaries cannot control strategic resources.
Monroe Doctrine Rebooted
- The modernised Monroe Doctrine (the "Don Roe" doctrine) signals the US will actively block non‑American actors in the Western Hemisphere.
- Carlos Solar warns the National Security Strategy's rhetoric is being matched by action now.
China's Soft Power Play In Latin America
- China's Latin America white paper emphasises multilateralism and non‑interference to woo regional partners.
- Carlos Solar says Beijing trades political nonjudgment for economic ties and influence.
