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Russia has issued a stern warning to the United States following the maritime blockade imposed by Donald Trump's government against Venezuela, alerting that Washington's unilateral actions could push the Western Hemisphere toward a military conflict with unpredictable consequences.
In a strong statement, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, María Zajárova, condemned the U.S. military escalation in the Caribbean, stating that it is reviving practices typical of banditry and piracy, and called for avoiding a "destructive course" that further destabilizes the region.
"We are compelled to note that the U.S. continues to deliberately escalate tensions surrounding friendly Venezuela," Zajárova stated at a press conference.
The high-ranking Russian official accused Washington of operating under pretenses such as combating drug trafficking and fighting terrorism to justify measures that she considers “neocolonial ambitions.”
Accusations of "piracy" and violations of maritime law
The Russian spokesperson was emphatic in addressing the de facto blockade imposed by the United States on Venezuelan ports and coastlines.
"Today we are witnessing complete anarchy in the Caribbean Sea, where forgotten practices of theft of others' property are being revived, specifically piracy and banditry," he denounced.
From their perspective, the naval blockade and the interceptions of oil tankers constitute a "violation of the freedom of navigation" established in Article 87 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982.
Zajárova described the restrictions imposed by the United States as unilateral, illegal, and contrary to fundamental principles of international law, such as the sovereign equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs.
Moscow's warning: Avoid a "destructive" course
In one of the strongest warnings that Russia has directed at Washington in the Latin American context in recent years, the Russian Foreign Ministry made an explicit call to the Trump administration to avoid a military escalation.
“It's important to prevent events from taking a destructive course,” Zajárova stated, while expressing her hope that "the pragmatism and common sense that define the President of the United States will allow for mutually acceptable solutions."
Furthermore, it made it clear that Moscow does not rule out regional consequences if the U.S. campaign escalates, emphasizing that Latin America and the Caribbean “must remain zones of peace, as was proclaimed in 2014.”
Russia denounces the desire for "external control" over Venezuelan resources
During her speech, Zajárova directly linked U.S. military actions to an attempt to dominate Venezuela's natural resources.
She claimed that the maritime blockade responds to the "attempt to establish external control over the sovereign resources" of the South American country, in a gesture that, according to her, updates the logic of the Monroe Doctrine under a so-called "Trump Amendment."
"Such methods inflict serious damage on global energy security, foster price volatility, increase uncertainty, and disrupt established resource supply chains," he warned.
Unconditional support for the Maduro government
Zajárova reaffirmed Russia's support for Nicolás Maduro and his administration.
"We reaffirm our support for the efforts of Nicolás Maduro's government to protect sovereignty and national interests, and to maintain stable and secure development in his country," he emphasized, aligning with the message that President Vladimir Putin himself recently sent to the Venezuelan leader, in which he expressed his "unchanging solidarity in the face of unprecedented external pressure."
The Russian stance adds to that of other allies of Venezuela, such as Cuba and Nicaragua, whose leaders have also expressed their “unyielding” support for the Chavista government, amidst what they consider a “historic battle.”
A year of high tension in the Caribbean
Russia's warnings come after a 2025 marked by a steady increase in U.S. pressure on Venezuela.
In January, Donald Trump authorized the use of force as part of a campaign against "narcoterrorism," and in August, he even deployed a nuclear submarine in Caribbean waters.
In the following months, the situation has become more serious with attacks by Southern Command on vessels linked to drug trafficking, although without conclusive evidence.
More than one hundred people have died in at least 30 naval attacks, some of which are considered extrajudicial executions by human rights organizations.
Tensions escalated with the operation 'Southern Spear', which in November and December led to the interception of Venezuelan oil tankers, provoking international protests and an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, where the majority of countries condemned the unilateral stance of the U.S.
Although the White House continues to insist on its crusade against drug trafficking, members of the government itself, such as Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, have publicly admitted that the ultimate goal is the overthrow of Maduro.
In a recent interview, Wiles stated: "We will continue flying boats until Maduro admits his defeat."
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