Putin Voices Strong Support for Maduro as U.S.-Venezuela Tensions Escalate

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his backing for Venezuela during a phone conversation with his long-time ally, President Nicolás Maduro, according to the Kremlin.

This conversation occurred following the U.S. seizure of an oil tanker near the Venezuelan coast, marking yet another point of contention between the two nations.

Russia has maintained close relations with Venezuela, highlighted by Maduro’s visit to Moscow earlier this year where he participated in a military parade and signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Putin.

In the discussion on Thursday, the Kremlin reported that «Vladimir Putin conveyed his solidarity with the Venezuelan populace.»

The Russian president also «affirmed his support for the Maduro administration’s policies that safeguard national interests and sovereignty amid escalating external pressures,» the statement noted.

In response, Caracas indicated that the leaders «reconfirmed the strategic, robust, and evolving nature of their bilateral ties.»

It further stated that Putin «emphasized that the lines of direct communication between the two countries remain consistently open and assured that Russia will continue to stand by Venezuela in its efforts to uphold its sovereignty, adhere to international law, and promote peace throughout Latin America.»

The U.S. military had taken control of a Venezuelan oil tanker on Wednesday, with troops descending onto the vessel’s deck from a helicopter, rifles drawn as they boarded.

Washington has accused the Venezuelan leftist leader of heading a drug cartel, a claim that Maduro refutes. He has asserted that the U.S. is intent on effecting regime change due to Venezuela’s significant oil reserves.

Moreover, U.S. President Donald Trump has stationed warships within striking distance of Venezuela, amidst reports of at least 87 fatalities in over 22 attacks on vessels in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea.