How Harsh U.S. Sanctions Are Advancing Chinese and Russian Interests Abroad A sustained maximum pressure campaign will only further incentivize Tehran and Caracas to strengthen ties with Beijing and Moscow for survival. Over the last four years, harsh U.S. sanctions have pushed Venezuela and Iran further into the arms of traditional U.S. adversaries. China and Russia seek to exploit this collective enmity toward the United States through offering economic lifelines, advanced technology, and military training programs to Caracas and Tehran in defiance of U.S. sanctions. Moreover, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has provided Beijing and Moscow with more clout in domestic Venezuelan and Iranian affairs as they grow heavily dependent on Chinese and Russian aid. While increased economic entanglement with Venezuela and Iran could strap China and Russia with financial liabilities, it provides coveted geopolitical leverage for greater hedging against the United States and its sanctions regimes.