Political and military tensions surrounding Venezuela have reached their peak. Following U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of a "perfect blockade" and the deployment of military ships to the Caribbean Sea, reports have emerged that Russia is evacuating the families of its embassy staff from Caracas.
Conflicting reports on evacuation
According to information from European intelligence sources provided by the Associated Press (AP) agency, Russia has been evacuating relatives of its diplomats from Venezuela since December 19. Intelligence reports indicate that Russia’s Foreign Ministry has assessed the situation in the country as "hopeless."
However, official Moscow has categorically denied these claims. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement insisting that the situation remains under control and showcased photographs of a New Year’s celebration organized for Russian children in Caracas as evidence.
Trump’s "oil blockade" and military pressure
U.S. President Donald Trump has implemented unprecedented measures against Venezuela. Accusing the Maduro regime of "narco-terrorism" and using a "shadow fleet" for oil smuggling, Washington has undertaken the following actions:
- Complete blockade: Starting from December 16, all oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela were subjected to a ban.
- Military presence: The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, eight warships, and F-35 fighter jets were deployed to the Caribbean Sea.
- Seizure of tankers: Two large oil tankers accused of financing the Maduro regime were intercepted by U.S. forces in international waters.
A $50 million bounty for Maduro
Washington does not recognize Nicolás Maduro as the legitimate president and accuses him of ties with the Cártel de los Soles ("Cartel of the Suns"). The Trump administration raised the bounty for Maduro's capture to a record-breaking $50 million.
"Maduro’s days in power are numbered," Donald Trump stated in a declaration made in November.
It has been reported that the White House is even considering the possibility of carrying out a ground military operation in Venezuela.
Russia’s stance
During these challenging times, Russia continues to support Venezuela. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has expressed readiness to assist Caracas in countering the U.S. economic blockade. However, growing military tensions in the region have raised serious questions about the safety of Russia’s diplomatic mission.
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