Overview
- The Kremlin’s Dmitri Peskov said Moscow is in contact with Caracas and referenced existing contractual obligations without confirming a formal aid request.
- The strategic partnership signed in May and promulgated in October broadens Russia–Venezuela cooperation into security, though the pact’s full text has not been published.
- The Washington Post reported that Nicolás Maduro sought support from Russia, China and Iran to strengthen Venezuela’s defenses against U.S. pressure.
- The Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal reported U.S. preparations to strike Venezuelan military sites, as CSIS tracks a growing U.S. naval presence including eight warships, three amphibious ships and a submarine.
- Since September, U.S. forces have attacked 16 suspected narcotics vessels in regional waters with 64 reported deaths, while Maduro highlights Russian-made Igla-S missiles and Su-30 aircraft in Venezuela’s air defenses.