EN
Th e aim of this study was to explore the reasons why the United States supported the pro-Western candidate for Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó in January 2019. To achieve this goal, Walt’s balance of threat was employed. This theory assumes that states try to balance potential threats. The study concludes that the United States felt threatened by Russia’s recent actions in Venezuela and the entire Latin American region. Therefore, the United States imposed sanctions on Maduro’s regime and successfully balanced the international system through international organisations. Th is case study serves as a good example of how balance of threat theory can be used.