Sanctions have reduced russia's influence in Latin America

International sanctions imposed on russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine have significantly limited its geopolitical presence in Latin America.

The initiative known as the ‘Primakov Doctrine,’ which envisaged expanding cooperation with countries in the region, is now being implemented mainly through symbolic diplomatic gestures – exchanges of delegations, student programmes and meetings at the secondary level. The main partners remain Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela – states with historical ties to the USSR.

Sanctions policy has also led to a sharp decline in military-technical cooperation. russia traditionally supplied Soviet-style weapons to the region, but the war in Ukraine has significantly depleted its stocks. No large-scale deliveries have been recorded in recent years. Instead, a number of Latin American countries are considering modernising or completely replacing outdated systems in cooperation with the United States.

Against the backdrop of russia's weakening position, Iran and China have stepped up their activities in the region. Iran is increasing its arms supplies, while China is expanding scientific and military cooperation, strengthening strategic ties with Latin American countries.

Source: SZRU