INTERNATIONAL
Russia says it hopes Trump does not make 'a fatal mistake' on Venezuela
US President Donald Trump orders blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers as Russia warns of unpredictable consequences and backs Maduros sovereignty. - REUTERS
MOSCOW: Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday that it hoped that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration did not make a fatal mistake over Venezuela and said that Moscow was concerned about U.S. decisions that threatened international navigation.
AI Brief
Trump on Tuesday ordered a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela as Washington tried to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government.
There has been an effective embargo in place after the U.S. seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week, with loaded vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil staying in Venezuelan waters rather than risk seizure.
"We hope that the D. Trump administration, which is characterized by a rational and pragmatic approach, will not make a fatal mistake," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said that Venezuela was a friendly country to Russia, and that Moscow hoped the U.S. would not wade into a situation that would have "unpredictable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere".
Russia quoted Simon Bolivar, a brilliant Venezuelan military tactician who liberated much of South America from centuries of Spanish rule, as saying that every nation had the right to choose its own rulers and that other countries should respect this.
Russia, the ministry said, wanted a normalisation of dialogue between Washington and Caracas, and reaffirmed Russia's "solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the face of the trials they are going through."
Russia supports "the Maduro government's course aimed at protecting the national interests and sovereignty of the Motherland."
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AI Brief
- Trump escalates pressure on Maduro with a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers after recent US seizure near Venezuela.
- Russia condemns US move, calling it a grave mistake and warning of risks to regional stability in the Western Hemisphere.
- Moscow reaffirms support for Venezuela's sovereignty and urges dialogue between Washington and Caracas.
Trump on Tuesday ordered a "blockade" of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela as Washington tried to increase pressure on Nicolas Maduro's government.
There has been an effective embargo in place after the U.S. seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela last week, with loaded vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil staying in Venezuelan waters rather than risk seizure.
"We hope that the D. Trump administration, which is characterized by a rational and pragmatic approach, will not make a fatal mistake," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said that Venezuela was a friendly country to Russia, and that Moscow hoped the U.S. would not wade into a situation that would have "unpredictable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere".
Russia quoted Simon Bolivar, a brilliant Venezuelan military tactician who liberated much of South America from centuries of Spanish rule, as saying that every nation had the right to choose its own rulers and that other countries should respect this.
Russia, the ministry said, wanted a normalisation of dialogue between Washington and Caracas, and reaffirmed Russia's "solidarity with the Venezuelan people in the face of the trials they are going through."
Russia supports "the Maduro government's course aimed at protecting the national interests and sovereignty of the Motherland."
Your gateway to global news, insights, and stories that matter.