Russia promises "full support" to Venezuela against American "hostilities"

(Patria) - Russia yesterday expressed "full support" for Venezuela as the South American country faces a blockade by American forces deployed in the Caribbean, AFP reported.

Moscow's promise, which is itself embroiled in the war in Ukraine, came ahead of a UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Tuesday to discuss the growing crisis between Caracas and Washington.

In a phone call, the foreign ministers of the allied countries condemned the American actions, which included attacks on alleged drug trafficking ships and the recent seizure of two oil tankers. A third ship is being pursued, a US official told AFP on Sunday.

"The ministers expressed deep concern over the escalation of Washington's actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and endanger international shipping," the Russian Foreign Ministry said about the phone call between Sergey Lavrov and his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil.

"The Russian side confirmed its full support and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people in the current context," the statement added.

US forces have launched attacks since September on ships that Washington claims, without providing evidence, were trafficking drugs in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific. More than 100 people have been killed - some of them fishermen, according to their families and governments.

US President Donald Trump also announced on December 16 a blockade of "sanctioned oil ships" sailing to and from Venezuela.

Trump claims that Caracas, under President Nicolas Maduro, uses oil money to finance "narcoterrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping." He accused Venezuela of taking "all our oil" - in an apparent reference to the nationalization of the country's oil sector - and said: "We want it back.".

Caracas fears that Washington is seeking regime change and accuses it of "international piracy.".

A Moscow statement said Lavrov and Gil agreed in their call to "coordinate actions on the international stage, especially at the UN, to ensure respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.".

Russia and China, another ally of Venezuela, supported Caracas's request for a UN Security Council meeting to discuss what it called "ongoing US aggression.".

Rubio: Russia has "its hands full"

On Telegram, Gil said he and Lavrov discussed "aggressions and flagrant violations of international law being committed in the Caribbean: attacks on ships, extrajudicial executions, and illegal pirate acts carried out by the United States government.".

Gil said Lavrov confirmed "Moscow's full support in the face of hostilities against our country.".

Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed Moscow's support for Caracas. Washington, he said, is "not worried about escalation with Russia over Venezuela" because "they have their hands full in Ukraine.".

Relations between the US and Russia have deteriorated in recent weeks as Trump has expressed frustration with Moscow over the lack of a solution to the war in Ukraine.

On Monday, Gil also read on state television a letter signed by Maduro, addressed to UN member states, warning that the US blockade would "affect oil and energy supplies" worldwide.