Russia and Venezuela are reinforcing coordination between their security agencies in response to the noticeable increase in the US military presence in the Caribbean, as confirmed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov.

The diplomat asserted that both countries are “shoulder to shoulder” to confront what he considers a belligerent and baseless escalation by Washington against the South American nation.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized the unwavering nature of the bilateral relationship, highlighting that the comprehensive strategic alliance with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was recently ratified.

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In an interview with the international relations magazine Mezhdunarodnaya Zhizn, Ryabkov emphasized that cooperation covers all fronts, including close and open collaboration between the security forces of both countries.

Riabkov vigorously defended Venezuela against the harassment campaign launched by the United States, stating that the pretexts used to justify the escalation of tensions in the region are completely unfounded. The Russian diplomat categorically dismissed the accusations of drug trafficking against the Venezuelan leadership, calling them baseless claims.

The Russian official argued that the issue of drug trafficking is being used by Washington as a political weapon, serving only as a pretext for the buildup of foreign military forces in waters near Venezuela. Riabkov maintained that the fight against drug cartels must be addressed through other means and denied that Venezuela is at the forefront of this illicit activity.

Moscow’s concerns are heightened by the US military deployment in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, which, under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, has involved the deployment of ships and thousands of troops. This belligerent strategy materialized with the recent arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, drastically increasing the risk of conflict in the region.

This escalation of tensions comes at a critical moment, as news reports, citing US government sources, have revealed that President Donald Trump’s administration considered carrying out special operations to capture or eliminate Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Another plan, according to the same sources, would involve seizing oil fields and vital infrastructure of the Bolivarian nation.

Russia strongly condemned this increase in hostilities and reiterated its firm commitment to peace and regional sovereignty. Ryabkov emphasized that Moscow advocates for and demands that all of Latin America remain a zone of peace, a principle that, he said, is well known to all parties involved in the current geopolitical crisis.

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