Why Did Trump Really Take Venezuela? It Wasn’t Just Oil!

The relationship between Venezuela and Russia and China represented one of the most significant geopolitical realignments of the 21st century, built on anti-American sentiment, oil-for-loans arrangements, and mutual opposition to U.S. hegemony. This trilateral dynamic evolved from modest beginnings under Hugo Chávez into a comprehensive strategic partnership that has sustained the Maduro regime through economic collapse and international isolation.

The relationship between China and Venezuela took formal shape in 2006, under President Hugo Chávez, with Caracas signing several trade agreements with Beijing and describing China as a “Great Wall” against US influence. Chávez, seeking to diversify Venezuela’s oil exports away from the United States and counter American regional dominance, found in China an eager partner with rapidly growing energy needs and no political conditions attached to its financing.

The financial dimensions proved staggering. China began extending large loans to Venezuela, backed by future oil supplies of oil. In 2006, Beijing provided $2 billion in loans, which rose to $7 billion in 2007. Of the $150 billion the Chinese Development Bank loaned to Latin America in the past 12 years, a third went to Venezuela. These weren’t traditional loans but rather oil-collateralized arrangements where Venezuela repaid through petroleum shipments to Chinese state companies.

In 2007, China and Venezuela set up a joint fund worth $6 billion–$4 billion loan from the China Development Bank (CDB) and $2 billion from El Fondo De Desarrollo Nacional S.A. (FONDEN) set up by Caracas. This fund doubled to $12 billion by 2009. The mechanism was straightforward: China provided upfront capital, and Venezuela committed to shipping specified quantities of oil at predetermined prices. When oil prices collapsed in 2014 and Venezuela’s economy imploded, China extended additional lifelines including a $10 billion loan to support the country’s balance of payments.

The relationship peaked between 2010 and 2013, when Venezuela received approximately 64% of China’s new credit lines to Latin America. However, as Maduro’s mismanagement destroyed the oil industry and production plummeted, Chinese enthusiasm collapsed as a result. By 2016, Venezuela received only 10% of Chinese regional lending, and new financing essentially ceased. China focused instead on restructuring existing debt and protecting already-committed investments.

China is owed by Venezuela at least $20 billion in loans established before 2017. Some estimate that is even higher. The relationship shifted from expansion to damage control. Maduro’s rampant corruption and mismanagement has led to the region’s worst economic depression, creating unfavorable investment conditions, affecting oil production and exports, and limiting return on Chinese investment and Venezuela’s ability to repay Chinese loans.

Now, that said, we must look at the Russian comment and look at this video. Who is standing there with Trump? Marco Rubio. If you remember, Rubio was also running for president against Trump in 2016. Who was funding his campaign? Goldman Sachs. Rubio has pushed for regime change in Venezuela because of Russia for years. Marco Rubio has held many titles during Donald Trump’s presidency, and he now adds another: Viceroy of Venezuela.

Russia’s engagement with Venezuela followed different patterns than China’s, emphasizing military cooperation alongside energy sector involvement since Russia did not need their oil. Where China provided infrastructure loans, Russia sold weapons systems. From 2005, Venezuela purchased more than $4 billion worth of arms from Russia. These sales included fighter aircraft, helicopters, armored vehicles, and air defense systems, transforming Venezuela’s military from American-equipped forces to Russian-supplied ones.

Russia and Venezuela forged a comprehensive strategic partnership centered on anti-hegemonic solidarity and pragmatic cooperation. This wasn’t merely commercial but explicitly geopolitical. Chávez and later Maduro positioned Venezuela as Russia’s foothold in the Western Hemisphere, allowing military exercises and bomber flights that signaled Moscow’s reach into America’s traditional sphere of influence.

The energy relationship proved more complex than China’s. Russia’s state oil company Rosneft provided billions in loans and took equity stakes in Venezuelan projects, though on smaller scale than Chinese financing. Russia’s state-backed oil company Rosneft loaned $2.3 billion, excluding interest. Critically, Russia helped Venezuela circumvent U.S. sanctions by facilitating oil exports through complex shipping arrangements and providing technical expertise to maintain declining production.

The trade balance between Moscow and Caracas increased by 64% in 2024, demonstrating sustained engagement despite Venezuela’s economic deterioration. Russia viewed Venezuela through multiple lenses simultaneously both as an economic opportunity, as well as a strategic geopolitical asset.