Although Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 visit to South America earlier this month was overshadowed by events in Ukraine and the Middle East, it did garner considerable attention in the South American and Russian media. Even in Washington, commentators saw Putin as seeking to circumvent the Western opposition to his policies in Ukraine as well as retaliate for U.S. involvement in Moscow鈥檚 neighboring states with a tit-for-tat display of influence in Washington鈥檚 strategic backyard.
Putin began his visit in Cuba on July 11, where he finalized plans to eliminate 90 percent of Cuba鈥檚 Cold War-era debt to Russia鈥攎ore than $30 billion out of $35 billion鈥攁nd convert the remainder to a special joint development fund to support new Russian-Cuban projects. After a brief stop in Nicaragua, he then traveled to Argentina, where he oversaw a nuclear energy cooperation agreement and other deals. In Brazil, his last stop, he watched the World Cup soccer final, signed new economic measures and attended the sixth annual BRICS summit鈥攍ater joined by other South American leaders鈥攂efore flying home on July 16. ...