Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that it hoped the administration of US President Donald Trump would not make a grave error in Venezuela, as tensions between Washington and Caracas continue to rise.
Moscow expressed alarm about US policies that could jeopardise international shipping and further destabilise the region.
The remarks come after Trump on Tuesday ordered a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil vessels entering and leaving Venezuela.
The decision is part of Washington’s broader strategy to intensify pressure on Nicolas Maduro’s government.
According to Moscow, the restrictions show a purposeful escalation of tensions surrounding a country that Russia deems friendly.
An effective embargo tightens pressure
Following the detention of a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela by the United States last week, Russia declared an effective embargo.
Since then, loaded vessels carrying millions of barrels of oil have sat idle in Venezuelan waters rather than risk being detained.
The scenario has raised concerns about the safety and dependability of international shipping routes that connect to the country.
In a statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry acknowledged the “continuous and deliberate escalation of tensions” in Venezuela.
It emphasised the unilateral nature of US choices and cautioned that such measures constituted a risk to international shipping.
Moscow expressed hope that the Trump administration, which it described as rational and pragmatic, would avoid actions that could have far-reaching implications.
Call for dialogue and restraint
Moscow welcomed the normalisation of dialogue between Washington and Caracas but hoped the United States did not get sucked into preventing events in this crisis from developing to unpredictable consequences for the whole of the Western Hemisphere.
The Russian foreign office reaffirmed its backing of what it calls the Maduro regime’s path, stressing its opposition to any unilateral pressure.
The Foreign Ministry presented its position as a warning rather than a conflict, highlighting the risks of escalating tensions.
It stated that actions impacting Venezuela should be undertaken with prudence due to their possible consequences beyond the country and throughout the region.
Kremlin echoes warnings
The Kremlin also weighed in on the situation and urged regional countries to exercise restraint. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said tensions were growing and characterised the situation as frighteningly dangerous.
His remarks echoed a Foreign Ministry statement that warned more violence could spark unforeseen events. Peskov noted that President Vladimir Putin had recently spoken on the phone with President Maduro.
He added that Russia was urging all countries in the region to take caution to prevent unanticipated consequences.
The Kremlin’s words highlighted Moscow’s concern that the Venezuela disagreement may go beyond diplomatic pressure and into wider turmoil.
Regional implications
Russia’s words reflect rising international concern over the course of US policies against Venezuela. By emphasising the risks to international shipping and regional stability, Moscow portrayed the problem as having far-reaching ramifications for Washington and Caracas’ bilateral relations.
Both the Foreign Ministry and the Kremlin have issued warnings, indicating that Russia considers the current trajectory to be dangerous and unpredictable.
As the effective embargo leaves oil tankers idle offshore and tensions escalate, Moscow’s plea for discussion and restraint reflects a larger concern about escalation in the Western Hemisphere and its potential global consequences.
The post Russia warns US against ‘fatal mistake’ as Venezuela shipping tensions rise appeared first on Invezz
