Russia Seeks Trade Opportunities in America’s “Back Yard”

Smarting from sanctions leveled by the US and other western nations after its actions in Crimea and the Ukraine, Russia has begun trying to woo Latin and South American nations into more favorable trade arrangements. But, what will the Russians be trying to buy and sell in these nations, and what impact might this have on US economic and security interests?

Smarting from sanctions leveled by the US and other western nations after its actions in Crimea and the Ukraine, Russia has begun trying to woo Latin and South American nations into more favorable trade arrangements. But, what will the Russians be trying to buy and sell in these nations, and what impact might this have on US economic and security interests?

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, is rumored to have made promises to Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Argentina. Among them: continuing support for Cuba, help to counter US sanctions in Venezuela, possible military hardware for Argentina, and the suggestion that Russia may build a canal to rival the Panama Canal in Nicaragua. Needless to say, several of these rumored promises have raised red flags in Washington. Lavrov’s tour of Latin and South America is the latest in a series of efforts to explore new markets in order to offset the harm caused by western sanctions.

Those sanctions flowed from Russia’s actions in the Ukraine. Western sanctions’ intentions were to isolate Moscow from the rest of the world and erode support for President Vladimir Putin. But, the recent series of economic missions to previously under-used markets has led to a number of new opportunities for Russia and a margin of political stability for Putin.
Over the past year, other diplomatic missions have included stops in China, India, Egypt, Turkey, Brazil, Hungary, and others.

The visits to Latin America are merely a continuation of that trend. What is new, however, is the report of Russian arms sales to these states south of America’s borders. Most troubling is the suggestion that Russia may begin leasing military aircraft to Argentina and Nicaragua. And the United States is not the only nation concerned. These rumors triggered fears in Britain of renewed wars in Argentina, which battled the South American nation for control of the Falkland Islands in 1982.

These fears were stoked by Russia’s ambassador to Britain, Alexander Yakovenko, who told the RT Network that the 2013 referendum in which an overwhelming majority of Falkland Island residents voted to remain a part of Britain was no more legitimate than the referendum in Crimea last year that purportedly had the local residents vote to become a part of Russia. While strengthening economic ties around the globe is in Russia’s best interest and may be the only way for the current administration to survive in the current political climate, it is also a clear message to the West.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, Marine Corps General John Kelly, head of US Southern Command said, “Russia is using power projection in an attempt to erode US leadership and challenge US influence in the Western Hemisphere…Under President Putin … we have seen a clear return to cold war tactics.”

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov did not miss the opportunity to point out that economic sanctions suffered by countries like Venezuela (sanctioned for human rights abuses) are affecting Russia. Lavrov has painted these sanctions into persecution by the US to curry favor with these nations, and it appears to be working.