Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reaffirmed his support to Venezuela in a phone call with long-time ally President Nicolas Maduro in the face of growing external pressure, the Kremlin said.
Maduro has been under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to leave office, with the United States conducting a huge military build-up in the Caribbean.
The U.S. lastly seized an oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast.
Russia has fostered warm ties with Venezuela, with Maduro earlier this year visiting Moscow, where he attended an annual military parade and signed a broad partnership agreement with Putin.
In a phone call on Thursday, Putin "expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people," the Kremlin said in a read-out.
