As the South American nation faces a blockade of sanctioned oil ships by US forces stationed in the Caribbean, Russia on Monday declared its "full support" for Venezuela, according to the two countries.
The foreign ministers of the two allies criticized the US operations in a phone conversation. These efforts have included bombing suspected drug-trafficking boats and, more recently, the seizure of two tankers. A US official told AFP on Sunday that a third ship was being chased.
Regarding the conversation between ministers Sergei Lavrov and Yvan Gil, the Russian foreign ministry stated, "The ministers expressed their deep concern over the escalation of Washington's actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten international shipping."
"The Russian side reaffirmed its full support for and solidarity with the Venezuelan leadership and people in the current context," it continued.
"The ministers agreed to continue their close bilateral cooperation and to coordinate their actions on the international stage, particularly at the UN, in order to ensure respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs."
At Caracas' request, supported by China and Russia, the UN Security Council will convene on Tuesday to examine the escalating crisis between Venezuela and the United States.
Gil of Venezuela claimed on Telegram that he and Lavrov had talked about "the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law being perpetrated in the Caribbean: attacks on vessels, extrajudicial executions, and illicit acts of piracy carried out by the United States government."
Since September, US Marines have attacked boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that Washington claimed were involved in drug trafficking without offering any proof.
According to their relatives and governments, approximately 100 people have died, some of them fisherman. On December 16, US President Donald Trump declared that "sanctioned oil vessels" traveling to and from Venezuela will be blocked.
According to Trump, Maduro's Caracas is funding "drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping" with oil money. Lavrov, according to Gil, reaffirmed Moscow's "full support in the face of hostilities against our country."
