"Nicolas Maduro showered Vladimir Putin with praise during his visit to Moscow on Victory Day in May 2025. The Venezuelan leader described Russia as "a key power of humanity" and the two heads of state signed a cooperation agreement. But on January 3, Russia stood back and watched as the US forcibly brought Maduro and his wife to New York, where they are being tried for drug trafficking."
"In December 2018, Russia sent two Tu-160 strategic bombers to Venezuela for exercises, which experts interpreted as a sign of support for Maduro. They landed at Caracas airport the same airport used by the US to fly out the Venezuelan leader in handcuffs. Russian air defenses were unable to protect him, as US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has pointed out."
Maduro visited Moscow in May 2025, praised Russia as "a key power of humanity" and signed a cooperation agreement with Putin. On January 3, US forces brought Maduro and his wife to New York to face drug trafficking charges, and Russia did not intervene. Russian air defenses failed to protect Maduro, prompting criticism and concern from the Russian Foreign Ministry, which called for his release and negotiations. Official contacts continued between Maduro and Putin late in the year. Analysts characterize Russian support for Venezuela as more symbolic than practical and unable to challenge US deployments in the region.
Read at www.dw.com
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