The diplomatic disputes unfolded against a backdrop of economic misery in Venezuela. As the region has turned on him this year — and with his country on the verge of defaulting on its loans — Mr. Maduro has made increasingly enthusiastic overtures to Russia and China. Mari Carmen Aponte, who served as the Obama administration’s top diplomat for Latin America, said Mr. Maduro was negotiating from a position of weakness. China, she said, has a high tolerance for risk and takes a long view on investments in countries rich in natural resources. Russia, on the other hand, she added, probably sees Mr. Maduro’s vulnerability as a golden opportunity to gain leverage over another top oil exporter.

Source: New York Times December 27, 2017 22:30 UTC