Russia “strongly denounces excessive military force” used by the US in the Caribbean Sea. Message of support from Moscow for the leadership of Venezuela
The Presidents of Venezuela and Russia, Nicolas Maduro and Vladimir Putin, during their meeting in Moscow in May 2025. Credit: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Saturday complained about the “excessive military force” deployed by the US in the Caribbean Sea as part of a campaign to combat drug trafficking and expressed its support for Venezuela's leadership, reports AFP.
“We strongly denounce the use of excessive military force in the conduct of anti-drug operations,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a comment on the website of the ministry she represents.
“Such actions violate both domestic US law (…) and the norms of international law,” added the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
At least 14 boats have been targeted and 61 people have been killed in US operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which Washington says are aimed at combating drug trafficking.
The United States has built up a significant military presence in the Caribbean in recent months, sending fighter jets, warships and thousands of troops.
Venezuela maintains that the ultimate goal of the deployment of US forces is to oust President Nicolas Maduro, according to AFP.
Message of support for the Maduro regime
In comments on Saturday, Zakharova said Russia “confirms our firm support for the leadership of Venezuela in defense of its national sovereignty.”
In May, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, signed a strategic partnership agreement in Moscow.
On Monday, according to AFP, Venezuelan authorities said they had foiled what they described as a plot linked to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to attack a US warship docked in Trinidad and blame the government in Caracas. The head of the Venezuelan diplomacy said that thus the objective was to “justify the aggression against our country”.
