Russia Supports Venezuela in Confronting the US After Seizing 2 Oil Tanker Ships
JAKARTA - Russia has expressed support for Venezuela, which is facing tensions with the US that led to the seizure of oil tankers related to the South American country.
The Russian promise was revealed in a telephone conversation between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil on Monday, December 22 local time.
The conversation took place ahead of a meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) discussing the escalating crisis between Venezuela and the US today, Tuesday, December 23.
"The ministers expressed their deep concern over Washington's increased actions in the Caribbean Sea, which could have serious consequences for the region and threaten international shipping," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement regarding Lavrov-Yvan's conversation, quoted by AFP.
In the phone conversation, criticism was also discussed of US military actions, including attacks on ships suspected of being involved in drug trafficking and the recent seizure of two oil tankers related to Venezuela.
The US military seized the Skipper tanker on December 10. Then last Saturday, US forces seized the Centuries tanker.
Ships entering or leaving Venezuelan waters are seized because the US considers them to be supplying oil to countries sanctioned by US President Donald Trump.
On Sunday, December 21, the US military also pursued an oil tanker near Venezuela.