Russia’s regional influence in Latin America wanes due to sanctions
Russia’s influence in Latin American countries has significantly declined as a result of international sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine, which have limited Moscow’s diplomatic and military engagement in the region.
The main partners remaining for Moscow are Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela—countries with historical ties to the Soviet Union, according to Ukraine’s external intelligence service.
Intelligence officials report that the initiative known as the ‘Primakov Doctrine,’ aimed at expanding cooperation with Latin American nations, is now mostly carried out through symbolic diplomatic gestures—such as delegations exchanges, student programs, and low-level meetings.
Furthermore, sanctions have sharply reduced military-technical cooperation: supplies of Soviet-style weaponry, which Russia actively supplied to the region in the past, have decreased substantially, with no significant deliveries in recent years.
Meanwhile, several countries in the region are considering modernizing or fully replacing outdated military systems, often in cooperation with the United States.
Russia’s declining influence has been met with increased activity from Iran and China; Iran is ramping up arms supplies, while China is expanding scientific-military collaborations to strengthen strategic ties with Latin American nations.
These developments signal a shift in regional power dynamics and geopolitical alignments, also considering the recent reports that Transnistria is distancing itself from Russia.