Putin Reaffirms Backing for Maduro After U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Tanker

Overview

• The Kremlin readout says Vladimir Putin expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and backed Nicolás Maduro's course defending national interests.
• The call followed a U.S. operation in which troops boarded a Venezuelan oil tanker off the country's coast after rappelling from a helicopter.
• Russian and Venezuelan leaders discussed expanding cooperation under a strategic partnership signed earlier this year covering trade, energy, and military-technical areas.
• U.S. forces have increased their regional presence near Venezuela and have intercepted vessels as part of a broader campaign against alleged drug trafficking networks.
• Reporting from the period since September cites at least 21 strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific with at least 83 people killed.