NPR Wonders Why Russia Ignores US Attacks on Foes It Can't Profit From
While NPR's recent piece, "Why is Russia reserved in its response to the U.S. attack on Venezuela?", observes Russia's muted reaction to perceived U.S. aggression against a decades-long ally, it elegantly sidesteps a central question: what's in it for Russia? Kremlin foreign policy isn't exactly known for its altruism. One might recall Russia's robust intervention in Syria, a strategic foothold
and arms deal bonanza, contrasting sharply with their Venezuelan 'support' which appears limited to rhetorical gestures and a few debt-laden oil deals. (One wonders if the Caracas accounts are simply not profitable enough to risk direct confrontation.) Geopolitical calculations, it seems, weigh heavily on Moscow. Unlike Ukraine, where Russia perceives a direct threat to its borders and spheres of
influence—not to mention a chance to reclaim territory—Venezuela simply doesn't offer the same strategic dividends. Is Russia's 'reservation' truly a mystery, or is it a calculated move based on maximizing profit and strategic advantage without incurring unnecessary costs? Perhaps NPR hopes we won't notice the difference.