Venezuela strengthens ties with Russia as tension with the United States grows: military agreements, accusations against the EU and anti-Trump strategy
With tensions growing between the United States and Venezuela, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is playing the Russia card. If for the American president, Donald Trump, the leader of Venezuela’s “days are numbered”, the latter wanted to underline that military cooperation between Caracas and Moscow “is progressing” and “will continue in a serene and very profitable way”.
Relations between Russia and Venezuela
Maduro, in reiterating collaboration on the military front with Moscow, declared that the Venezuelan government maintains “daily and permanent communication” with the Kremlin regarding “many ongoing issues”. Praising Russia, he explained that it is “a world power” which is however “capable of establishing relations of equality, respect and cooperation with countries like Venezuela”. Although in this case he did not mention the United States, between the lines he seems to want to highlight the clear differences between Moscow and Washington: if, in his vision, the White House aims at a regime change, the Russians on the other hand “have no imperialistic ambitions”. He also highlighted that there is “a truly exemplary relationship” between Russia and Venezuela, given that “the Russians, with President Putin at the head, have built a model of respect for international law and cooperation for mutual development”.
According to what was reported by the Washington Postthe Venezuelan president has already turned to Russia, China and Iran to strengthen the country’s defense in an attempt to counter growing US pressure. Already last weekend, the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, had affirmed Russia’s “firm support” for the Venezuelan leadership in the defense of its national sovereignty. It should also be remembered that between Moscow and Caracas, as recently claimed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, there are “contractual obligations” resulting from a strategic association agreement signed in May and ratified by the Duma on 21 October. The agreement focuses on collaboration in the political and economic fields: in addition to the topic of energy and transport, issues of security and the fight against extremism and terrorism are included. On the Duma website we read that its president, Vyačeslav Volodin, declared: «Whoever uses threats to bring the entire nation to its knees will fail, because a multipolar world is a reality. Therefore, ratification is a concrete step towards peace, development and stability not only in Venezuela, but throughout Latin America.”
The Venezuelan response to American “psychological warfare”.
Maduro, in the program “With Maduro+”, announced that to defeat “the psychological war” carried out by the United States, “work, facts, results” must be put in motion rather than “rumors and lies”. The president of Venezuela then announced that “two drug trafficking aircraft” which “tried to enter Venezuelan airspace” were intercepted and shot down.
Criticism of the EU
Caracas also placed the blame on Brussels for not allocating “even one euro of aid” to the local population. This was said by the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil: according to him, Brussels finances “intermediaries and false NGOs”, “masking corruption operations with solidarity”. In Gil’s sights are the recent 14.5 million euros announced by the European Commission and intended for assistance to Venezuela: “They will not be used by citizens, but by a system of international corruption.”
The US Congress will receive more information on Venezuela
Although Trump has stated that he does not intend to start a war against Venezuela, Axios revealed that the tycoon has given instructions to inform a greater number of members of Congress on issues relating to the Latin American country. The decision would come after complaints arose in Congress following American raids in the Caribbean Sea against alleged drug traffickers. Initially the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had addressed the Venezuelan issue with the so-called Gang of eight: that is, “the majority and minority leaders of both houses of Congress, as well as the chairmen and vice-chairmen of the intelligence committees,” Axios reported. Therefore, the circle of those informed should expand.
