BY DOMINIC WIGHTMAN

Left and Right Denounce Venezuela’s Maduro – But Not the Authoritarians

Illegitimate Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, once a relatively obscure political figure, has now become a symbol of defiance against Western democracy. For more than a decade, he has presided over a country marred by economic collapse, human rights abuses, and political repression. Despite these failings, which have provoked condemnation from both the political left and right globally, Maduro remains in power, supported by a network of authoritarian regimes. While nations like the United States and European democracies seek his removal, authoritarian governments in Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba have thrown their weight behind him. He has become something of an international menace for someone whose career started as a bus driver at the Caracas Metro company.

Maduro’s controversial re-election in 2024 has deepened the political chasm. The U.S. and its allies view him as an illegitimate tyrant, accusing him of stealing elections, engaging in narcoterrorism, and subjecting Venezuela to economic ruin. Yet for Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba, Maduro represents a crucial ally in their broader global struggle against democratic influence. The support he receives from these countries not only highlights the ideological divide between democratic and authoritarian states but also signals a larger global trend where authoritarians band together to resist international pressure and maintain their grip on power.

In Maduro, authoritarian regimes see more than just an ally; they see a leader who mirrors their own disregard for democratic norms. For Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba, supporting Maduro is not merely about Venezuela’s domestic situation but part of a wider geopolitical strategy to undermine Western influence, particularly in Latin America. These regimes provide Maduro with essential military and economic aid, ensuring his survival despite Venezuela’s internal turmoil and isolation from the West.

Russia’s assistance to Maduro has been particularly significant. Moscow, which views Latin America as a strategic counterweight to U.S. influence, has supplied Venezuela with billions of dollars in loans, weapons, and military expertise. In moments of crisis, such as in 2019 when opposition leader Juan Guaidó attempted to oust Maduro with the backing of the U.S., Russia sent military aid and advisors, helping to shore up Maduro’s security apparatus. The presence of Russian military contractors, such as the notorious Wagner Group, further underscores Russia’s determination to keep Maduro in power.

China, meanwhile, has become Venezuela’s lifeline. As Venezuela’s principal creditor and largest oil purchaser, Beijing has kept the country’s oil-dependent economy afloat despite crippling U.S.-led sanctions. By trading through third parties and finding ways to circumvent sanctions, China has ensured that Venezuela’s oil continues to flow. For Beijing, supporting Maduro is not only about protecting its investments but also about extending its influence in Latin America, a region of increasing interest to both the U.S. and China.

Iran and Cuba also play critical roles in sustaining Maduro’s regime. Iran, like Venezuela, is heavily sanctioned by the U.S. and shares a common cause with Maduro in resisting what they perceive as Western imperialism. Tehran has provided technical assistance and oil refining technology, helping to prop up Venezuela’s energy sector. Similarly, Cuba, which has long maintained close ties with Venezuela since the days of Hugo Chávez, offers military and intelligence support, reportedly staffing Maduro’s personal security force with Cuban operatives. This tight-knit support network has been instrumental in keeping Maduro in power despite widespread opposition at home and abroad.

While authoritarians rally around Maduro, his regime has lost the backing of many on the global left who once saw Venezuela as a socialist beacon. Countries such as Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, which had historically supported Venezuela under Chávez’s socialist experiment, have distanced themselves from Maduro. His brazen manipulation of elections, economic mismanagement, and the violent repression of political opponents have disillusioned even his ideological allies.

For much of the Latin American left, Maduro’s Venezuela is no longer a model of socialist progress but a cautionary tale of authoritarianism gone awry. Leaders like Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, and Mexico’s Andrés Manuel López Obrador have refrained from openly endorsing Maduro’s re-election in 2024, signalling their discomfort with his increasingly undemocratic tactics.

However, for Maduro, the withdrawal of support from the democratic left has little consequence. His reliance on the authoritarian bloc of Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba means that he is largely insulated from Western sanctions and diplomatic isolation. Unlike more moderate leftist leaders, Maduro no longer needs to appeal to Western sensibilities. His strategy now hinges on aligning himself with regimes that have no interest in promoting democracy.

The ongoing support for Maduro from authoritarian regimes highlights a broader ideological conflict between authoritarianism and democracy that is playing out on the world stage. This struggle transcends traditional left-right politics, as the authoritarians see themselves as part of a global movement to disrupt the Western-led liberal order.

From Ukraine to Taiwan, and now Venezuela, authoritarian states are challenging global norms and the international community’s ability to manage crises. According to political analysts, these regimes are not interested in resolving conflicts but in perpetuating them to destabilise the global order. In Venezuela, as in Syria, the authoritarians have succeeded in keeping a dictator in power despite immense international pressure.

This broader geopolitical struggle complicates efforts to remove Maduro through diplomatic isolation or economic sanctions. As long as he can rely on Russia’s military aid, China’s economic backing, and the rhetorical and logistical support of Iran and Cuba, Maduro will remain in power, defying the democratic world.

Maduro’s survival is a testament to the strength of the global authoritarian network. Despite international condemnation, he has managed to cling to power with the support of regimes that share his disdain for democracy. The authoritarians’ backing of Maduro reveals a global fault line that is not defined by left-right politics, but by a deeper struggle between authoritarianism and democracy.

As long as these regimes continue to support Maduro, the likelihood of his removal remains slim. The international community’s efforts to oust him, like their attempts to remove other authoritarian leaders, may continue to falter in the face of this growing global alliance of autocrats.

Dominic Wightman is the Editor of Country Squire Magazine and the author of Dear Townies, Arcadia and Truth among other books including ‘Conservatism’ which publishes later this month.