Following the Russian invasion in Ukraine, Latin America is emerging as one of the most vulnerable regions to the growing Russian economic and political influence outside Eurasia. In response to the international sanctions against Russia, the Kremlin has intensified its efforts to influence governments and public opinion in the region.
These are some of the key findings from CSD’s latest report on the Global Reach: The Kremlin Playbook in Latin America, which were presented during a policy roundtable in Washington D.C. on September 18, 2024, co-organized together with the Inter-American Dialogue, one of the leading U.S. center for political analysis, exchange and communication on Western Hemisphere affairs. The event gathered more than 30 key Latin America experts and U.S. policy-makers, including Juan Guaidó, the president of Venezuela between 2019 and 2023.
The discussion focused on how Russia has exploited governance deficits and the democratic backsliding in five Latin American countries to expand its foothold in strategic economic sectors including energy, mineral extraction, construction and finance. The speakers united behind the notion that Russia has found a particularly fertile ground in countries that share political affinities with its interests, such as Venezuela and Bolivia, or in those susceptible to developing economic dependencies, mainly in sectors such as energy, agriculture (fertilizers) and communications.
The event underscored the Kremlin's ability to manipulate narratives, create dependencies, and exploit regional fragilities, illustrating the urgency of a coordinated international response to counter Russian influence in Latin America.
