Move interpreted as escalation of US policy as Vladimir Putin ‘reaffirms’ support for South American dictator
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Diplomatic pressure on Nicolás Maduro has grown after the US interdicted a “dark fleet” tanker off the coast of Venezuela in a move that has been interpreted as an escalation of the Trump administration’s pressure on the South American dictator.
The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, called Maduro on Thursday after the rare seizure to “reaffirm” Russia’s support for the current Venezuelan government, despite calls from the Trump administration, other countries in the region and Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for him to step down.
A Kremlin readout of the call said Putin called Maduro to express “solidarity” with the Venezuelan people and to continue to build economic and energy cooperation, which includes offshore oil ventures in the Caribbean Sea.
