Moscow has long sought allies across the Americas and through Western gates. For Washington, the Monroe Doctrine has guided U.S. policy in the hemisphere, while the Kremlin has pursued a counterstrategy by building alliances with countries across the Caribbean and South America. This approach has persisted, shaping Moscow’s view of the region as a priority arena for influence.
To bolster those ties, Moscow has promoted what it calls its “backyard.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov began a tour of nearby nations this week, focusing on Brazil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. On Latin America in general, Lavrov noted that several countries question American dominance and consider it normal to resist Western influence — a sentiment he described as widespread rather than exceptional.
Venezuela has emerged as a central partner for Russia, especially in light of political alignment with the United States and large oil production. Venezuela served as the second stop on Lavrov’s itinerary, where he met with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez and President Nicolás Maduro. Russian media, including Tass, highlighted cooperation in the energy sector as a key topic, with Moscow seeking to expand oil production and broaden collaborations in gas and related sectors. President Vladimir Putin has called Caracas a strategic partner, underscoring a wish to deepen ties across energy, industry, infrastructure, transportation, and pharmaceutical sectors, in line with Russia’s broader goal of expanding cooperation in multiple domains.
The next destination on Lavrov’s schedule is Nicaragua, a country historically linked to Russia since the 1980s. In Managua, officials are expected to discuss strengthening bilateral economic projects and international partnerships, with a focus on sustained collaboration in development and governance arenas.
Cuba, consistently identified as a key ally, will be the final stop before Lavrov returns to Russia. The island has stood as Russia’s strongest regional partner since the 1960s, though it faces ongoing challenges related to food and energy security. The relationship remains important as Cuba seeks support amid broader regional pressures. In a notable recent engagement, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel traveled to Moscow to meet with President Putin, signaling ongoing high-level coordination.
BRICS, another pillar
The initial leg of Lavrov’s Latin American trip, Brazil, marked a pivotal moment. Alongside Russia, the BRICS grouping includes India, China, and South Africa, a bloc seen as a counterweight to Western-led economic models and as a potential forum for discussing a multipolar world order. Brazil is recognized as Russia’s strongest economic partner within BRICS and is notable for its electoral standing, often highlighted in analyses of democratic governance by major publications, though perspectives vary across rankings.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has recently contended that U.S. actions in Ukraine contribute to conflict and has advocated a transition toward a peaceful resolution. He has proposed a peace initiative, echoing a path pursued previously by China. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cautioned that it was premature to draw conclusions and emphasized the importance of understanding nuances before rushing to judgment, noting that ideas that take Russian interests into account deserve attention.
Beyond supporting Russia’s broader aims, Lula has positioned himself as a potential mediator in Western-Russian dialogues, while emphasizing the need for global stability that prioritizes developing economies. Lula has welcomed Putin to regional and international forums, signaling ongoing engagement between Brasilia and Moscow. The Brazilian leader has linked his stance to a broader vision of world order where every major economy has a voice, a sentiment widely discussed in international policy analyses.