With the world transfixed on growing tensions along the Ukraine – Russia border and what would be the difference in the U.S’s response to either a “minor,” or full-scale invasion, the steady military build-up of Russian hardware along the Venezuelan side of the Colombia border has gone largely unnoticed by the international community. By Richard Emblin. Full Text -> TheCityPaper

Traducción de cortesía ->Con el mundo paralizado por las crecientes tensiones a lo largo de la frontera entre Ucrania y Rusia y cuál sería la diferencia en la respuesta de los EE.UU.a una invasión “menor” o a gran escala, la constante acumulación militar de equipo ruso a lo largo del lado venezolano de la frontera con Colombia ha pasado desapercibida para la comunidad internacional. To translate into Spanish -> Google Translación

Whether it wishes to be drawn in or not, the region is being encouraged directly and indirectly to take sides. In the 1970 and ’80s this was for ideological reasons, but today it is because external parties see Latin America and the Caribbean as the next front in a worldwide confrontation about attaining influence and economic supremacy. By David Jessop. Full Text -> Barbados Advocated

Moscow has a stake in Maduro’s regime, but its value to Putin depends on oil. By Walter Russell Mead. Full text-> WSJ

Under Vladimir Putin, Russia is increasingly working to exert its influence and undermine U.S. interests around the world, including in the Western Hemisphere. This is particularly clear in Putin’s efforts to prop up the brutal, illegitimate Maduro regime in Venezuela. By Marco Rubio (R-Fl). Full text-> The Hill

The United States and Russia have exchanged harsh words over Venezuela, where Moscow supports a president considered illegitimate by the United States and some 50 other countries.Full text-RFE/RL

Trump’s “America First” stance has manifested as a neo-mercantilist and semi-isolationist strategy that views many of America’s economic, military and political commitments around the world as opportunities to be exploited for short-term gain. He seems happy to cede U.S. influence in the Middle East to Russia if doing so allows the United States to withdraw cheaply and quickly. by Christopher Rhodes.Full text-> The National Interest

Russia’s foreign minister visited Venezuela on Friday in a show of support for President Nicolas Maduro as mounting pressure from Washington threatens to cut off the socialist leader from a key financial ally in Moscow. By Scott Smith. Full text-> Toronto City News

The U.S. president has made the troubled South American nation a political pawn in the new cold war with Russia. By David Smilde. Full text->New York Times