As Russia looks for influence in Africa, Venezuela should be a lesson for Washington

As Russia has made clear that it has no intention of backing down, the U.S. is only starting to realize the consequences of Moscow’s strategy. Russian President Vladimir Putin has successfully purchased influence, giving him leverage over Maduro and, as long he remains in power, access to the country’s oil reserves and a troublesome foothold for Russian interests in Latin America. But Venezuela is far from the only country that Putin has found willing to give Moscow considerable influence in exchange for Russian weapons. As the New York Times reported, deals with Russia have proliferated in the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, and Libya among other countries. More…