Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Russia on Saturday sharply condemned the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, accusing Washington of committing an act of armed aggression and abandoning diplomacy in favor of ideological confrontation.
In a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Moscow said there was no legitimate justification for the U.S. action, which followed overnight strikes across Venezuela and reports from President Donald Trump that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro had been captured.
“This morning, the United States committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela,” the ministry said. “This is deeply concerning and condemnable. The pretexts used to justify such actions are untenable. Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism.”
The statement did not directly address Maduro’s reported detention or the legal proceedings announced by U.S. officials, instead focusing on the broader implications of the military action. Russia reaffirmed its political support for Venezuela, calling the country its most important ally in South America.
“We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people,” the ministry said, adding that there were no reports of Russian citizens being injured in the U.S. strikes.
Despite its strong language, the Kremlin stopped short of indicating that it would provide military assistance to Caracas in response to the operation. Russia has historically backed Venezuela through diplomatic support, arms sales, and economic cooperation, but has been cautious about direct involvement in any potential conflict with the United States.
The condemnation adds to growing international reaction following the U.S. operation, which has drawn mixed responses worldwide. While some U.S. allies have welcomed the move as a decisive step against alleged narcotics trafficking and authoritarian rule, countries aligned with Caracas have denounced it as a violation of sovereignty and international law.
Russia’s response underscores the risk that the U.S. action could deepen geopolitical tensions beyond Latin America, as global powers weigh in on one of the most dramatic confrontations between Washington and Caracas in decades.
