Russia has committed to being “prepared” to support Venezuela as Donald Trump escalates the US military presence near the South American country. The White House is moving forward with plans for a strike operation targeting drug traffickers, although experts have pointed out that attacking drug boats would violate international law.
In May, Caracas and Moscow entered into a strategic partnership, leading the Kremlin to assert its readiness to take action. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia was prepared to fully comply with the obligations outlined in the agreement with Venezuela. While the agreement is not yet in effect, it is nearing completion, as both countries’ leaders have ratified the strategic partnership.
Lavrov mentioned that the agreement is in its final stages of ratification by the Russian Legislature, emphasizing the importance of continuing security cooperation, including military-technical collaboration. The United States has significantly increased its military presence near Venezuela, with the recent arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, along with three warships in the region. This has raised speculation about whether Trump aims to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Despite the heightened tensions, Venezuela has not formally requested military aid or the deployment of Russian weaponry in its territory, according to Lavrov. However, a senior Russian official hinted at the possibility of sending Venezuela the experimental Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile, which Russia utilized in a strike on central Ukraine a year ago.
