Trump's Venezuela gamble: Why China, Russia and Iran just lost their foothold in Latin America

Trump's Venezuela gamble: Why China, Russia and Iran just lost their foothold in Latin America

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Soldiers' Stories
16 Video Views·Feb 12, 2026

Two days on from Donald Trump’s extraordinary capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the dust has barely begun to settle.

Maduro is appearing today in a New York court where he will be charged with “narco-terrorism” and conspiracy to import cocaine, which can carry life sentences under US law.

But Maduro is not the only loser in all of this. Iran, Russia and China have all lost a valuable client - one who sold them oil, bought their weapons, and provided them with a beachhead on America's doorstep.