Russia’s Continued Support for Venezuela
Moscow has reaffirmed its backing of the Venezuelan government in light of the recent U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro, the country’s leader.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov engaged in discussions with Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez shortly after U.S. Army Delta Force commandos executed Operation Absolute Resolve, which led to Maduro’s removal from Venezuela.
In a statement released on Sunday, officials from the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized their solidarity with the Venezuelan people facing what they termed armed aggression. They assured that Russia would continue to support Venezuela’s efforts to safeguard its national interests and sovereignty.
The relationship between Russia and Venezuela has been characterized by a robust partnership, with Moscow providing substantial political, economic, and military assistance to Caracas. Additionally, China has emerged as a significant ally for Maduro’s regime.
Moscow urged Washington to reconsider its stance and release Maduro, whom they regard as the legitimately elected leader of Venezuela. Both Lavrov and Rodríguez expressed their commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership between Russia and Venezuela.
Chinese officials condemned Operation Absolute Resolve, labeling it an egregious act of force against a sovereign nation. Zhu Jingyang, Beijing’s ambassador to Colombia, criticized this behavior as a violation of international law that threatens peace in Latin America and called for respect towards Venezuela’s sovereignty.
China plays a crucial role as the primary purchaser of Venezuelan oil, receiving approximately 746,000 barrels per day in November alone—accounting for about 80% of Venezuela’s total oil exports.
Hours before his capture by U.S. forces, Maduro met with several Chinese officials in Caracas and shared images from this meeting on his Instagram account.
