Introduction to International Politics

Foreign Event Analysis

Locale[]
Russian Federation
Title
Venezula and Russia Strengthening their Relationship
Summary
Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela, and Dmitry Medvedev, the President of Russia, have been involved with talk this week in the Russia capital trying to strengthen their countries ties with each other. Over the last couple days the two countries have signed a deal where Russia will loan Venezuela one billion dollars to increase its military hardware by buying Russian weapons. This is already after Venezuela has already bought an estimated 4.4 billion dollars worth of Russian military Hardware. Venezuela will also be opening up a manufacturing plant to build Russian AK 104’s and 103’s under contract. In addition, it is suspected that today Russia and Venezuela will start talks about solidifying their oil production. Russia who is already slated to start drilling off Venezuela waters in October will try and allow more of their companies to come into the area and also help Venezuela with its internal oil production. The two countries are also planning to start talking about allowing Russian Nuclear energy technology to be implemented in Venezuelan run power plants. These events come right before a planned joint naval operation between Venezuela and Russia. The two countries are quickly becoming strong friends and allies.
Analysis
The recent strengthening of the ties between Russia and Venezuela is a clear example of a desire for power and security for each individual state. Venezuela has a long history of trying to increase its dominance in South America and have the United States respect their actions. By buying weapons from Russia they are able to increase their hard power and all power has to be respected. In addition, by allowing Russian Nuclear energy plants they not only decrease their dependency on oil which will allow them to export more of their oil and increase their soft power. It also allows them to have access to nuclear technology which can easily be converted to a primitive dirty bomb if necessary. Their alliance with Russia only helps their path to gain power in the Western Hemisphere.
Russia also gains immensely in this growing friendship between the two nations. Russia increases their oil production which is already second in the world. By increasing their soft power they are able to increase their overall power. In addition, by spreading their influence into Venezuela they are once again to have an ally in the Western Hemisphere. This would help reestablish them as a world power. It also helps them be in a position to threaten the United States again. This is especially significant after the United States’ reaction to Russia’s aggressions in Georgia. The United States will now have to account for the fact they cannot just act freely against Russia with no fear of reprisals. If they do open a nuclear power plant in Venezuela they will also be able to have a nuclear armed ally in the Western Hemisphere which is even better. There large sale of arms to Venezuela also helps them increase their soft power by increasing their economy. These two countries are only acting together because by helping each other they are each benefiting tremendously.
The United States has a lot to fear with this growing friendship between Venezuela and Russia. These two countries produce a vast sum of the world’s oil, a product that the United States needs in order to fuel its economy. In addition, the United States has a lot to fear from a foreign power in the Western Hemisphere because it interferes with their security. America must also fear the building of a strong military power in Venezuela which could destabilize South America which America would then be forced to intervene to keep the peace. America has a lot to lose if both of these countries continue their friendship unchecked.
Perspectiver
Realist
In-Region URL
http://www.interfax.com/3/428388/news.aspx
Out-of-Region URL
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/26/content_10116649.htm
Submitted
September 26, 2008 at 10:54 am