The oil and geopolitical interests of the US, China and Russia meet directly in Venezuela, which is why the country with the largest proven oil reserves in the world is a unique global neuralgic arena, very different from, say, the case of “Taiwan” or “Ukraine”. Namely, the US on the one hand, and China and Russia, (two among the founding members of BRICS), have recently been emphasizing their long-term plans with Venezuela almost simultaneously, whereby the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, is for Washington a “narco-leader” whose days in power in Caracas are “numbered”, while for Beijing and Moscow, today’s official Caracas is a persistent partner.
The conflict of interest is obvious.
So… while the US aircraft carrier “Gerald R. Ford“—according to the description of the US Navy “”the most capable, adaptable and deadliest combat platform in the world”” in mid-November from the direction of Gibraltar sailed the South Atlantic route towards Venezuela, (to join the US fight with local drug traffickers), official Beijing signed an agreement on free, duty-free trade with the government in Caracas (https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/190477/china-throws-venezuela-maduro-economic-lifeline).
“Bullying and hegemony will only lead to self-isolation,” Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned this spring during the Sino-Latin American-Caribbean Forum in Beijing, without specifying who he had in mind. (https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2025/05/13/chinas-xi-slams-bullying-as-beijing-hosts-latam-leaders).
Meanwhile, who and how secures the Chinese petro-installations in Venezuela (in the Lago di Maracaibo area) is a puzzle.
On the other hand, as of Friday, November 21, the Venezuelan parliament approved a 15-year extension of the cooperation of joint ventures for oil production with Russian companies, until 2041, the vice president of Venezuela, Delsy Rodríguez, announced on Telegram, “No illegitimate blockade can overcome our energy forces,” Rodríguez said on the occasion (https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Venezuela-Doubles-Down-on-Energy-Alliance-with-Russia.html).
Meanwhile, last weekend, the American destroyer USS Stockdale “positioned itself on the navigation route” of the petro-tanker “Seahorse“, which has been under EU and Great Britain sanctions since this summer. The ship in question (built in 2004 sailing under the flag of as many as eight countries), with a load of Russian petro-distillates for Venezuela, after intercepting the USS Stockdale, made a “u—turn” heading in the direction of Cuba. In the waters of the Caribbean Sea, there seem to be some other old tankers with Russian petro cargo for Venezuela idle now for days (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-21/russian-tanker-idles-near-venezuela-after-us-warship-enters-path).
In that fog, the Latin American drug cartel “Cartel de los Soles” is as of today a “foreign terrorist organization” –according to Washington’s nomenclature. US secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth points out that “new options” of action are now open to the US in the case of Venezuela.
How will the triangle: USA—China—Russia continue in the case of “Venezuela”?
The upcoming “wrestling”, in whatever style, will test not only the specific weight of BRICS plus in the face of a direct challenge from US , but also Washington’s intention to defend numerous US interests throughout the Western Hemisphere.
The first global ring of confrontation between BRICS plus and the USA is currently being offered in Venezuela. The outcome of the eventual “match” could have ripple effects far beyond Latin America.
