Latin America has become a broader market for the sale of Russian weapons, with a stronger focus on Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia over the past ten years, according to the report Global Reach: The Kremlin’s Playbook in Latin America, published by the Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD).
According to the report, the success in expanding the Russian arms market in Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia over the last decade is closely tied to the “anti-American” rhetoric of these countries.
“Russia seeks to present itself as a viable geopolitical alternative by revitalizing existing defense and security ties, backed by concrete agreements for the transfer of Russian weapons and military equipment,” the report states.
The publication highlights that, in addition to consolidating Latin America as a larger market for Russian weapons, it includes a military and defense cooperation component in the region.
This relationship allows Russia to establish a significant presence in Central America, where it can exert influence over regional security dynamics and counter U.S. interests, according to the publication.
There is also a media strategy
The report highlights that Russian media propaganda in Latin America has had a “disproportionate success” due to its ability to penetrate regional and national media of governments.
“The best example of this symbiotic relationship has been Telesur, a multilateral television network involving Cuba, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Argentina, and Uruguay. Over time, the television station deepened its ties with Russia and Venezuela, transforming into a platform aligned with the informational objectives of the Kremlin,” it states.
The publication highlights that two Russian outlets, RT and Sputnik, are used to promote a specific internal political agenda in various countries.
“Leftist leaders, such as Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela or Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua, are often portrayed as fierce defenders of the people and democratic mandates, obscuring the reality of their authoritarian regimes and the deterioration of their countries,” the report states.
There is not as much success in other countries in the region politically
According to the study, the pattern across Latin America is that Russian media has had modest reach.
“In the rest of the countries in Latin America, Moscow has failed to penetrate strategic economic sectors, has implemented few large-scale projects, and is overshadowed by China in terms of trade and investment in the region. However, it has managed to exploit vulnerabilities related to political corruption and the fusion of political and economic power to advance major agreements of questionable economic value,” the report states.