Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed “solidarity with the Venezuelan people” as tensions intensify between President Nicolás Maduro and the United States following Washington’s seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast.
In a statement on Thursday, the Kremlin said Putin phoned Maduro and reaffirmed support for Venezuela’s efforts to “protect national interests and sovereignty in the face of growing external pressure.” The conversation came just 24 hours after American forces intercepted the vessel the latest escalation in US efforts to weaken Maduro, who faces narcoterrorism charges in the US.
During testimony before Congress, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem linked the tanker seizure to the Trump administration’s expanding anti-drug operations in the region. The US has deployed its largest Caribbean military presence in decades and carried out a series of fatal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats.
Venezuela’s government condemned the tanker seizure as “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy,” insisting Washington’s true aim is to remove Maduro from office.
According to Caracas, Putin “categorically reaffirmed his support” for Maduro, assuring him that direct communication between both countries “will remain permanently open” and that Russia will continue backing Venezuela “in its struggle to assert its sovereignty, international law, and peace throughout Latin America.”
Maduro like the late Hugo Chávez has maintained close ties with Moscow, which has supported Venezuela through vaccine supplies, cryptocurrency development, and even military hardware. In recent years, Russia dispatched nuclear-capable Tu-160 bombers to Venezuela and sent naval vessels to the port of La Guaira.
In a related development, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko met with Venezuela’s ambassador to Russia, Jesús Rafael Salazar Velázquez, for the second time in just over two weeks. Although details remain undisclosed, Belarusian state media reported that discussions with Maduro are expected to continue, with reciprocal state visits under consideration.
Erizia Rubyjeana
Follow us on:
