Putin will never give up an established warm water port in Syria.
Denying him one in Venezuela is another matter.
Watchin the russkies and Chinese fight over Africa is kind of amusing
That is not the objective, i.e., a warm water port in Venezuela. The Russians are still close allies with Cuba. They could always reopen their naval base in Cuba that was closed in 2002.
Oil is the strategic interest in Venezuela, which is a major exporter of oil and has the world's largest supply of proven reserves. Iran and Russia are working closely with Venezuela when it comes to oil exports to control prices. Cuba has a major presence in Venezuela, which is their major source of oil. Venezuela is a member of OPEC.
Watchin the russkies and Chinese fight over Africa is kind of amusing
Given the natural resources in Africa, specifically oil and gas, I find it disturbing, not amusing. The Chinese are trying to corner the market on oil, which they need to import in major quantities.