Putin called Maduro and assured him of Russia's support, amid tensions between Venezuela and the US
Vladimir Putin on the phone, Photo: Alexei Danichev / Sputnik / Profimedia
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday, whom he assured of Moscow's support for the Caracas government's policy in the face of mounting external pressure, the Kremlin said, according to Reuters.
Maduro is under pressure from US President Donald Trump to relinquish power as the United States deploys a massive military buildup in the Caribbean.
In a statement, the Kremlin said Thursday that Putin and Maduro discussed “their desire to implement the strategic partnership agreement and implement various joint projects related to the economy and the energy sector.”
The US administration is intensifying its economic and military efforts to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, AFP notes.
In a recent interview with Politico, Donald Trump suggested that Maduro's days are “numbered.”
Moreover, Trump repeatedly suggested the possibility of an American military intervention in Venezuela.
Maduro accuses Washington of trying to oust him from power to seize his country's oil.
On Wednesday, Donald Trump announced the seizure of an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.
Venezuela's main resource is crude oil, which is subject to an embargo. This forces the country to sell its production on the black market at significantly lower prices, mainly to Asian countries.
The United States, Europe and many Latin American countries do not recognize the results of the 2024 elections that allowed President Maduro to secure a third six-year term. The opposition, in turn, accuses the government of fraud.
