The Russian government raised its tone when dealing with the escalation of tensions involving Venezuela and stated that the scenario could produce “unpredictable” effects for all Western countries.
The statement was made this Wednesday by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in response to the increased presence and actions of the United States in the region.
The position comes just days after the Kremlin confirmed a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Nicolás Maduro. According to Moscow, the dialogue served to reiterate political support for the Venezuelan government in the face of what it classifies as a growing offensive by Washington.
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Trump’s military escalation and rhetoric
Tension increased after United States President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela would be “totally surrounded” and ordered the blockade of oil tankers entering or leaving the country. Last week, American forces intercepted one of these vessels in international waters.
Trump accused Caracas of involvement in illegal activities linked to oil and threatening American interests, without elaborating on the accusations. The Venezuelan government reacted by classifying the actions as illegitimate and denouncing what it calls a direct aggression against the country’s sovereignty.
For Moscow, American tightening reinforces the risk of regional instability. Russian authorities say they are closely monitoring developments and have maintained open communication channels with Maduro’s government since the beginning of the current crisis.
Venezuela at the center of bigger disputes
The Russian warning comes in a broader context of friction between Moscow and Washington. At the same time as increasing pressure on Venezuela, the United States seeks to increase the economic cost of the war in Ukraine for Russia.
According to Bloomberg, the White House is studying new sanctions against the Russian energy sector as a way of pressuring Putin to accept more flexible terms in an eventual peace agreement. The Kremlin reacted by saying that measures of this type make any attempt at rapprochement between the two countries difficult.
Putin once again denied that Russia poses a military threat to Europe and criticized Western leaders for, according to him, fueling a climate of panic. Still, he reaffirmed that Moscow will not give up on the objectives that gave rise to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Diplomatic impasse persists
The Russian government also rejected reports that a peace proposal under discussion would include sending European military forces to Ukraine. For Moscow, the presence of foreign troops in the neighboring country is a red line.
Kremlin officials say they do not expect visits from American envoys to Moscow this week and say they await clarification on possible progress in negotiations between Washington and Kiev.
With Venezuela becoming yet another point of friction on a board already pressured by the war in Eastern Europe, the Russian assessment indicates that the Latin American crisis is no longer a regional issue and has become part of a broader geopolitical conflict, with potential impact beyond the continent’s borders.
