Russian troops enter Perevalne base, a Ukrainian military installation located in Crimea, during the Crimean Crisis of 2014. Photo Credit: Anton Holoborodko Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its sponsorship of an ongoing separatist insurgency in Eastern Ukraine was largely met with widespread international condemnation. The United States and European Union levied sanctions against … Continue reading Russia’s Latin America Foreign Policy Supports its Incursions in Ukraine
Author: Joshua Chang
China’s Arms Diplomacy in Venezuela Affects Stability in the Western Hemisphere
Soldiers of the Venezuelan National Guard ride Chinese-manufactured armored vehicles during a 2014 parade commemorating the death of former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez. Photo Credit: Xavier Granja Cedeño / Ecuadorean Chancellery Venezuela declared in late September that it had obtained a new shipment of Chinese C-802A anti-ship cruise missiles, which can target vessels more than … Continue reading China’s Arms Diplomacy in Venezuela Affects Stability in the Western Hemisphere
Checkmating Chavismo: An Evaluation of US Sanctions Against Venezuela
In this article, guest contributor Dr. Ryan C. Berg and columnist Josh Chang evaluate the effectiveness of US sanctions on the Maduro regime in Venezuela and offer recommendations on how to improve the sanctions framework with the ultimate goal of facilitating a democratic transition in the country.
A Tale of Two Rogue States: The Iran-Venezuela Partnership
Iran and Venezuela find themselves on the receiving end of high-pressure US sanctions for gross abuses of international norms and human rights. They are ostracized by regional neighbors for these violations. Their regimes openly embrace an ideology of anti-imperialism that viciously criticizes what they perceive to be Washington’s interventionist foreign policy, which unites them in what Alberto Garrido dubs a “strategic alliance.”
The Bolivarian “Popular Mobilization Forces”: Paramilitary Groups in Venezuela and the Broader Implications for Regional Security
Supporters of President Nicolas Maduro, known as "colectivos," parade in on their motorbikes while anti-government supporters take part in a walkout against Maduro in Caracas on Jan. 30, 2019. Venezuelans are exiting their homes and workplaces in a walkout organized by the opposition to demand that Maduro leave power. Photo Credit: Rodrigo Abd/AP. The Popular … Continue reading The Bolivarian “Popular Mobilization Forces”: Paramilitary Groups in Venezuela and the Broader Implications for Regional Security
The Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela and Regime Security: Perspectives from the Inside-Out
Caracas (Venezuela), March 5, 2014. The Foreign Minister of Ecuador, Ricardo Patiño, participated in the commemoration of the death of Commander Hugo Chávez Frías. Photo: Xavier Granja Cedeño / Ecuador Ministry of Foreign Affairs In her book The Dictator’s Army, Caitlin Talmadge describes the contrast between militaries that condition themselves to fight conventional wars against … Continue reading The Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela and Regime Security: Perspectives from the Inside-Out
Arms Sales, Mercenaries, and Strategic Bombers: Moscow’s Military Footprint in Venezuela
The presidents of Russia and Venezuela discuss bilateral relations. Photo Credit: The Kremlin. During the Cold War, Soviet foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere was based out of Cuba, which housed Soviet naval, ground, and intelligence assets that projected Moscow’s influence in the Americas. The Soviet Union used its position in Cuba to lend support … Continue reading Arms Sales, Mercenaries, and Strategic Bombers: Moscow’s Military Footprint in Venezuela
Bolivarian Brotherhood: The Roots of the Cuba-Venezuela Relationship and its Future Trajectory
Representatives meeting at the XIII Meeting of the Political Council of ALBA. Photo Credit: Nina Zambrano Díaz. Foreign Ministry of Ecuador. On September 26, the United States imposed sanctions on Raúl Castro, brother of the late Fidel Castro and head of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), over Cuba’s support for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The … Continue reading Bolivarian Brotherhood: The Roots of the Cuba-Venezuela Relationship and its Future Trajectory
Chinese Military Diplomacy: The PLA’s Role in Beijing’s Global Outlook
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with a PLA soldier at Vostok 2018. Photo Credit: Kremlin. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) seeks to defend the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and enforce Beijing’s territorial claims and sovereignty to advance the country’s national interests. The PLA’s focus on these mandates primarily revolves around its warfighting activities, but China … Continue reading Chinese Military Diplomacy: The PLA’s Role in Beijing’s Global Outlook