By Sergio Monin on November 19, 2025.
The Kremlin has condemned US threats against the Maduro government, but remains cautious and avoids further involvement in the crisis.
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Moscow on May 7, 2025. Credit: foto: Alexander Zemlianichenko
Russia has consistently condemned US actions in Venezuela amid continued threats from the Donald Trump administration, which has been mobilizing troops in the Caribbean region since August.
Washington’s offensive against Caracas already involves US aircraft and warships, including the world’s largest aircraft carrier, deployed in the area. Russia, a strategic ally of Venezuela, denied having received any request for military assistance, but at the same time criticized the “unacceptability” of US accusations.
Last Monday, US President Donald Trump stated that he does not rule out sending troops to Venezuelan territory, citing an alleged offensive against drug trafficking in the South American country. At the same time, the Republican said he was open to dialogue with President Nicolás Maduro.
The Venezuelan president has declared himself willing to talk face to face with Trump, but also strives to accuse Washington of “manufacturing a war” in the region against his government. Last week, he enacted a new national defense law that creates the so-called “integrated defense commands.”
Despite maintaining caution and showing no signs of concrete action regarding the crisis, Russia, a traditional ally of Caracas, has remained critical of the position of the United States. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Washington’s justifications for the raids, which use the fight against drug trafficking as a pretext, are illegal.
“I cannot conclude my comments on Venezuela without expressing our position on the unacceptability of the actions taken by the United States. Under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, they destroy vessels that, according to them, are transporting drugs, without any trial or investigation, and not only without trial, but without presenting any evidence to anyone. This is how, in general, lawless countries act, as well as those who consider themselves above the law,” the foreign minister said in an interview with Russian media.
At the same time, Moscow denied rumors circulating in the media that Venezuela had requested direct military assistance from Russia. Russian diplomats said they had not received any such request from Caracas.
In an interview with Brasil de Fato, Victor Jeifets, professor of international relations at the University of St. Petersburg, points out that, in the context of the current confrontation with the West, relations with Venezuela have become more important for Moscow in recent years. In addition, the researcher notes that the volume of trade between Russia and Venezuela has begun to grow again.
At the same time, the expert on relations between Russia and Latin America affirms that direct military intervention by Moscow is unlikely. According to Jeifets, Russia is demonstrating that it “is not willing to give up its interests in Venezuela,” but the possibility of more proactive action on Russia’s part is remote.
Despite its caution, Russia maintains a historic alliance with Venezuela and has significant interests in the region. The strategic partnership agreement between the two countries, signed in May and ratified in October this year, provides for greater cooperation in the political, economic, and security spheres. For Victor Jeifets, the timing of the ratification was not accidental and represents a signal to the United States.
“The agreement was signed in May and we waited months for its ratification, even though it could have been ratified quickly, but no one did. They did not ratify it in June, but decided to do so months later, when tensions between Venezuela and the United States began. The timing was deliberately chosen to send a signal to the United States that ‘we are here, we are not going anywhere, we have our interests,’” he argues.
Although not directly involved in the crisis, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously stated that the country is in contact with the Venezuelan leadership amid growing tensions in the Caribbean and that Moscow is ready to respond to requests from Caracas.
“It seems to me that what is happening is a demonstration of potential interests and possibilities, to leave the Pentagon in uncertainty about Russia’s true intentions. This signal may have been received, because almost immediately Trump and other US officials stated that no decision had yet been made on bombing and military operation in Venezuela. Russia’s position is to interpret Trump’s actions, first and foremost, as a bluff. And if not a bluff, then as a demonstration that [Russia] will not yield or give up its interests in Venezuela,” he concludes.
Source: Brazil de Fato, translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English