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Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday to express solidarity with Caracas following the U.S. military’s seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker off the country’s coast, according to a statement from the Kremlin.
The Kremlin said Putin reaffirmed support for the Maduro administration’s efforts to safeguard Venezuela’s sovereignty and national interests amid mounting international pressure. The two leaders also reviewed bilateral cooperation under a strategic partnership agreement signed earlier this year.
The tanker seizure took place on Wednesday in the Eastern Pacific, where U.S. troops reportedly rappelled onto the vessel from a helicopter and entered the ship with rifles drawn. The operation has heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas.
U.S. authorities have accused Maduro of leading a drug trafficking organization, which the Venezuelan leader denies. Maduro claims Washington is seeking regime change in order to gain control over Venezuela’s extensive oil reserves.
President Donald Trump had previously ordered U.S. naval forces closer to Venezuelan waters. According to reports, American forces have carried out at least 22 operations against vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific, resulting in 87 deaths.
Putin and Maduro discussed the implementation of joint projects under a wide-ranging bilateral cooperation framework. The agreement, which came into effect in November, outlines commitments in areas such as energy, trade, finance, and cultural engagement.
The Kremlin noted that both leaders reaffirmed their mutual intent to strengthen collaboration across these fields. Maduro previously traveled to Moscow to attend Russia’s annual military parade and sign the comprehensive partnership deal.
Venezuela has faced intensified pressure from the United States in recent months, including military actions and sanctions that Caracas has described as efforts to interfere in its domestic affairs.
Thursday’s phone call marked the closest direct high-level contact between the two leaders since Maduro’s visit to Russia in May for the annual Victory Day celebrations.
The conversation came as Maria Corina Machado, a leading opposition figure in Venezuela, made a public appearance in Norway. From Oslo, she called for international efforts to cut off financial and logistical resources to the Maduro government.
Machado, who has remained out of public view since the 2024 elections, confirmed that her travel from Venezuela to Norway was facilitated by the United States.
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