Putin Strengthens Ties with Maduro as U.S. 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 phone call took place following the United States’ seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking yet another point of tension between the two nations.

Russia has maintained a close relationship with Venezuela, and Maduro traveled to Moscow earlier this year, where he participated in an annual military parade and signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Putin.

The Kremlin’s readout stated that, during the call, «Vladimir Putin expressed his solidarity with the Venezuelan people.»

The Russian leader also «reinforced his backing for the Maduro administration’s efforts to safeguard national interests and sovereignty amid increasing external pressures,» the statement noted.

In response, Caracas emphasized that the two leaders «reaffirmed the strategic, solid, and growing nature of their bilateral relations.»

It further stated that Putin had «confirmed that the lines of direct communication between the two countries remain constantly open and assured that Russia will continue its support for Venezuela in its quest to defend its sovereignty, uphold international law, and maintain peace throughout Latin America.»

The previous day, U.S. military forces had taken control of a Venezuelan oil tanker, with troops descending onto the tanker from a helicopter and boarding the vessel with weapons drawn.

Washington has accused the leftist Venezuelan leader of involvement in a drug cartel, a claim he denies. Maduro asserts that the U.S. seeks to alter Venezuela’s regime due to its vast oil reserves.

U.S. President Donald Trump has positioned warships close enough to Venezuela to pose a significant threat, and at least 87 individuals have lost their lives in a minimum of 22 attacks on vessels in the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean Sea.