Russia Pledges Support to Venezuela Amid U.S. Actions

Russia has pledged its full support to Venezuela amid escalating U.S. military actions in the Caribbean, including the seizure of oil tankers and strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels. The commitment came during a phone call on Monday between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, as tensions rise ahead of a United Nations Security Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

U.S. forces have intensified operations in the region since September, deploying naval vessels to intercept boats Washington claims are involved in narcotics trafficking linked to the Venezuelan government. Officials said the actions target vessels carrying drugs, though Caracas has denied any government involvement and accused the U.S. of fabricating claims to justify interference. Over the past months, U.S. Navy operations have resulted in the destruction of multiple small boats off Venezuela's coast, with more than 100 people killed, including fishermen, according to reports from families and local authorities. No arrests or public identifications of the victims have been disclosed.

In recent weeks, the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have seized at least two...