Russia Decries U.S. Military Actions in Venezuela Amid Escalating Tensions

On Saturday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it referred to as an act of “armed aggression” by the U.S. against Venezuela. The ministry called for restraint and cautioned against any further escalation following a series of explosions in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, earlier that morning.

The Foreign Ministry stated, “The justifications put forward for these actions are indefensible. Ideologically motivated hostility has triumphed over practical pragmatism and the desire to create relationships based on trust and predictability.”

As a supporter of Venezuela, Moscow emphasized the need for dialogue and expressed its readiness to assist in diplomatic initiatives.

“We reaffirm our support for the Venezuelan people and endorse the approach taken by their Bolivarian leadership to safeguard the nation’s interests and sovereignty,” the Foreign Ministry remarked.

The Russian embassy in Caracas confirmed that it continues to operate as normal and maintains ongoing communication with both Venezuelan authorities and Russian nationals residing in the country. No injuries to Russian citizens as a result of the attacks were reported.

U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned that the American military executed a “large-scale strike” against Venezuela on Saturday, asserting that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his spouse were captured “in collaboration with U.S. law enforcement” and removed from the country.

In remarks to The New York Times shortly after the announcement, Trump praised what he described as a “brilliant operation.”

“A lot of good planning and a lot of very capable troops and outstanding individuals contributed to it,” he was quoted as saying. “It was indeed a brilliant operation.”

Russia’s Foreign Ministry sought clarification regarding Maduro’s location, asserting that capturing him would be an “unacceptable violation of the sovereignty of an independent nation.”

Trump is anticipated to hold a press conference concerning the U.S. strikes at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday.

According to CNN, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López reported that the U.S. assault affected urban regions throughout Venezuela, with missiles and rockets launched from American combat helicopters.

He indicated that Venezuelan officials are currently working to determine how many individuals were injured or killed in the attacks.

“This invasion represents the most significant outrage our country has experienced,” López declared, pledging that Venezuela would stand firm against the presence of foreign troops.

The attack on Venezuela and the alleged capture of Maduro comes after several months of the U.S. significantly boosting its military presence in the Caribbean, mobilizing thousands of troops and over a dozen warships in the area.

Since September, U.S. forces have conducted strikes on vessels that the Trump Administration claims were involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.

However, Trump has also repeatedly signaled his desire for a change in regime in Venezuela, accusing the Caracas government of “narco-terrorism” and unlawfully seizing U.S. oil resources.