Maduro’s removal weakens key U.S. rivals that backed his government. Russia, which gave military support and debt relief to Venezuela, loses an important position in the Western Hemisphere.
With its influence already reduced by the war in Ukraine, Moscow could lose even more ground as U.S.-supported changes favor Western investments instead of Rosneft’s interests. China, Venezuela’s biggest lender with more than $60 billion in oil-backed loans, now faces more uncertainty.
Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative has paid for infrastructure projects in Venezuela, but a pro-U.S. government might renegotiate or even default on these deals. This could weaken China’s influence in Latin America and make its global resource plans more difficult. For Iran, Maduro’s removal is especially troubling.
His partnership with Tehran, which involved sharing drone technology and working together to avoid U.S. sanctions, made Venezuela an important base for Iranian influence in the Americas. “The event holds double significance for Tehran,” since it breaks up a key partnership at a time of growing tensions in the Middle East.
This change may encourage U.S. allies like Israel and Saudi Arabia and could shift the balance in the Persian Gulf.
