Alright, buckle up, because we’re diving into a story that’s less about traditional warfare and more about a battle for hearts and minds, particularly in the sunny, vibrant lands of Latin America. Imagine a powerful puppet master, in this case, Russia, pulling invisible strings to influence how people in places like Mexico see the world, especially their relationship with a colossal neighbor like the United States. For the past couple of years, this isn’t just a quiet whisper; it’s become a noticeable hum, a concerted effort to create a rift between the U.S. and its regional friends. And who are the main performers in this elaborate show? None other than state-backed media giants like Sputnik and RT, outlets that, when you peel back the layers, are often pushing a specific narrative: one that paints America in a less-than-flattering light. They’re especially focused on Mexico, a country that not only shares a massive border with the U.S. but also is its largest Spanish-speaking trade partner. It’s like trying to sow discord between two good friends who live next door to each other, knowing the impact that tension could have.
The alarm bells started ringing in April 2024, not in some faraway intelligence bunker, but right in the heart of Mexico City, where American diplomats watched with growing concern. An internal document, almost like a secret diary entry titled “Mexico: RT’s Invasion,” revealed their worry about the “sudden and dramatic expansion” of RT in the country. This wasn’t just a minor blip; it was a significant surge. The cable painted a picture of RT aggressively investing in Mexico, not just to gain viewers, but to build credibility for itself while subtly, or not so subtly, chipping away at the reputation of the United States. It suggested that “mission Mexico,” referring to the U.S. diplomatic effort there, was feeling outmatched and needed more resources to counter RT’s well-funded operations. Think of it like a David and Goliath situation, but instead of stones, they’re slinging stories and opinions. Of course, the Russian Embassy in Mexico City, when asked about this, batted away the accusations, insisting that Sputnik and RT were simply offering a ‘different’ perspective, an unbiased alternative to what they claimed was biased American media. But the numbers paint a different picture: RT en Español, the Spanish language version, saw its online views on X (formerly Twitter) skyrocket from a respectable 191,000 in 2022 to a staggering 715 million just a year later. It’s a clear sign that with RT blocked in much of Europe and the U.S., they’ve found a fertile ground in Latin America, a region of some 670 million potential viewers who are now being exposed to their narratives.
Now, let’s talk about the local flavor in this international drama. The U.S. Embassy cable wasn’t shy about pointing fingers, suggesting that some of the expansion of these Kremlin-backed media outlets in Mexico was facilitated by “allegedly sympathetic abettors in President López Obrador’s administration.” While Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s term as president ended recently, his party, Morena, still holds the reins, and within its ranks, there are indeed officials who lean towards Russia. This isn’t just hearsay; current and former American officials have vouched for it. It’s like having neighbors who, despite being your political allies, are also a bit too friendly with someone you consider a rival. Even British and French officials, sensing the broader implications, have discreetly voiced their concerns to Mexico’s foreign ministry. These aren’t just idle worries; they stem from a tangible fear of a growing Russian influence. Adding more fuel to this fire, a 2024 Justice Department investigation, focusing on a Russian government-sponsored influence campaign dubbed “Doppelgänger,” found that one of its explicit goals was to “encourage ‘anti-American sentiment’ as well as to exacerbate confrontation between the United States and Mexico.” Think of “Doppelgänger” as a digital shadow, mimicking legitimate news sources to spread its propaganda. While the specific threads of this operation might have been cut, the underlying effort to drive a wedge between Washington and Mexico through Spanish-language content discrediting the U.S. continues, a relentless drip, drip, drip of negative information.
The plots thicken when you consider the kinds of stories being peddled. Just this year, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev threw out a wild accusation, claiming that Ukraine and the United States were recruiting Mexican and Colombian cartels to fight Russia. This isn’t just a fringe theory; it was eagerly picked up by Spanish-language media in the region. And before you think that’s a one-off, the Russian Embassy in Mexico City had made a similar accusation, which, disturbingly, was then shared by several Morena politicians. It’s like a twisted game of telephone, where outlandish claims gain traction, especially when endorsed by official-sounding channels. It appears these narratives draw on some kernels of truth, like the stories of Colombian military veterans who, driven by financial desperation, indeed volunteered to fight for Ukraine. But the full picture, the context, and the implied conspiracy are often distorted. One particularly influential figure in Mexico, Jenaro Villamil, who heads Mexico’s State Broadcasting System – a network with vast reach – has been a regular sharer of Russian government media content on his social media. He defends it by saying he shares news from various outlets and his personal account doesn’t reflect the government. However, when he shared a Sputnik article last year linking the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to the 2021 assassination of Haiti’s president, adding a pointed comment about “another D.E.A. intervention in Latin America,” it raises eyebrows. While a former freelance DEA informant was linked to the killing, he had already stopped working for the agency at the time, a crucial detail often omitted in the narrative.
Beyond just online articles and social media posts, RT’s influence campaign extends to more tangible efforts across Latin America. According to a new investigation by the German Marshall Fund and Factchequeado, a non-profit that monitors Spanish news media, RT has been actively holding training sessions for journalists and students. Imagine attending a workshop to hone your craft, only to find yourself in a room suddenly erupting in chants of “Long live Russia!” and “Long live Putin!” as happened in a recent RT training for journalists in Venezuela. It’s a powerful illustration of the emotional and ideological sway they aim to cultivate. In Mexico itself, RT has forged a partnership with the Journalists Club, an industry association that, quite ironically, receives funding from Mexico’s Senate. This club has not only hosted RT for training sessions but its biweekly magazine has consistently republished RT articles. Since April, roughly 53 percent of its content has originated from Kremlin-owned media outlets. When asked about this, Mouris Salloum George, the club’s president, explained it quite simply: RT approached them, offering free content. It’s a classic tactic: provide something valuable for free, and you gain a platform, almost like getting free advertising space for your message.
The troubling reality for many in the West is that they feel outmatched in this “information war.” There’s a distinct fear that Washington, in particular, is not only falling behind but has actively disarmed itself in some critical areas. Experts point to the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle an office specifically created to counter disinformation, and the continuous struggle to adequately fund and support institutions like Voice of America, a U.S.-run news agency founded to combat Nazi propaganda. As Bret Schafer, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, succinctly puts it, “This is the problem: You have the U.S. retreating from the information space globally, and in comes Russia.” He suggests there’s still a “Cold War mentality” at play, where Russia sees Latin America as its opportunity to challenge the U.S. in what was traditionally considered the “American backyard,” mirroring how they feel about U.S. influence in their own “sphere.” For Russia, gaining influence in Latin America has always been seen as a strategic priority, a way to project power and create leverage on a global stage. This isn’t just about winning an argument; it’s about shaping perceptions, influencing policies, and subtly, yet powerfully, redrawing the geopolitical map, one story, one article, one training session at a time.