Putin aiding Maduro government during ongoing protests over allegedly fraudulent election outcome

Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan President, is seeking assistance from his ally, Vladimir Putin, to suppress opposition to the allegedly rigged outcome of the recent presidential election.

The arrests of 2,200 people, including opposition figures and journalists, followed the claim to victory by Maduro that led to widespread protests.

In the midst of the conflict, Putin deployed his Baltic Fleet to a port near Caracas, despite opposition politicians urging military and security forces to uphold the wishes of the people. Despite their loyalty to Maduro, the security forces have not wavered in their stance.

Reports of Russian Wagner mercenaries in Venezuela with government forces have been concerning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media platform X.

Putin phoned Maduro to express congratulations on his election victory and invited him to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Russia, which will take place in October.

Russia's involvement in Venezuela's crisis and increasing ties with the country are a warning sign for the U.S., as Putin seeks to strengthen authoritarian allies and counter U.S. policies in the Western Hemisphere.

Venezuela's relationship with Russia is a concern for both the Venezuelan people and the United States, according to Jorge Jraissati, a Venezuelan foreign policy expert and the president of the Economic Inclusion Group, who spoke to Planet Chronicle Digital.

The region will become more unstable and autocratic if Venezuela becomes a military hub for powers like Iran and Russia, which is bad for business, human rights, and security, according to Jraissati.

The increasing presence of the Wagner Group in Venezuela indicates the involvement of Russian military contractors in various activities, including protecting Maduro and gathering corporate intelligence.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies Americas Program's senior associate, Ariel Gonzalez Levaggi, stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Wagner mercenaries were present in Venezuela during the 2019 presidential crisis and are currently on the ground to enhance presidential security and train specialized military forces.

In 2019, when the opposition-controlled National Assembly did not recognize Maduro's victory and opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself acting president, Russia sent the same S-300 Air Defense Systems to support Maduro that were previously provided to help keep Bashar al-Assad in power in Syria.

Despite the demise of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in 2023, the group remains a threat to the region due to its use as a tool of military influence by Moscow and its role in extending authoritarian governments in the area.

Since 2013, Maduro has been in power following the death of Hugo Chavez and was seeking a third six-year term. On July 28, he declared himself the winner but has refused to provide data to show that he won. The National Electoral Council, backed by the government, announced that Maduro received 6.4 million votes and Gonzales received 5.3 million.

Nearly 7 million votes went to opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia in Venezuela's recent election, while Maduro received just over 3 million.

The US does not acknowledge Maduro's claim of victory in the election and instead recognizes González Urrutia as the legitimate winner.

According to a State Department spokesperson, the United States and the Venezuelan people are in agreement that Edmundo González Urrutia received the most votes in Venezuela's July 28 presidential election, based on the overwhelming evidence.

Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, congratulated González Urrutia and urged all Venezuelan parties to initiate a peaceful and inclusive negotiated transition for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.

The European Union, like the U.S., has not recognized Maduro's claim to victory in the Venezuelan election and believes he has not provided sufficient evidence to prove his win. Leaders of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia have tried to mediate the dispute. However, the three leftist presidents, including Brazil's Lula da Silva, Colombia's Gustavo Petro, and outgoing Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, maintain friendly relations with Venezuela and generally prefer to stay out of regional affairs. The trio called on Maduro to release the election data but stopped short of demanding his resignation.

Despite mediation attempts, Maduro's crackdown on dissent persists with Putin's support.

Moscow utilizes its influence in Venezuela as a tool to counterbalance the US and hinder American dominance in the Western Hemisphere, in retaliation for US support of countries in Russia's traditional sphere of influence, such as Georgia and Ukraine. Putin aims to maintain his strongman ally, Maduro, in power through popular protests or democratic elections, similar to Russia's support for Assad in Syria.

Venezuela expert Jraissati stated that Russia has maintained a close military relationship with Venezuela and has deployed various military equipment, including the S-300s, Mi-35M and Mi-26 helicopters, military trainers, and Wagner mercenaries to the country. Additionally, Moscow has sent nuclear-capable Tu-160 backfire bombers over the years, and Venezuela has purchased over $20 billion worth of military equipment since 2006.

Venezuela and Russia share close ties in the energy sector, with Russia's energy firms establishing relations with Venezuela's state-owned oil company and working on joint projects since the early 2000s. In 2006, Russia's state-owned Gazprom won the rights to explore for gas offshore Venezuela.

Jraissati said the U.S. approach to Venezuela needs reassessment.

The Biden administration's foreign policy approach has weakened America's global standing, particularly in Latin America and Eastern Europe. This is crucial to safeguard America's military, commercial, and energy interests, as stated.