The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday compared U.S. blockade of Venezuela as piracy in the Caribbean Sea.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the remarks as the United States has tightened its oil blockade against Venezuela and intercepted three more oil tankers in international waters near the country in less than two weeks.
At a press conference in Moscow, Zakharova said a resurgence of illegal activities in the Caribbean Sea, the long-deprecating acts of stealing others' property, namely, piracy, robbery and banditry, is reappearing.
Zakharova stated that Russia has consistently advocated easing tensions, maintaining mutual trust and predictability, and that the key is to prevent the situation from escalating in a destructive direction.
Russia supports Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's efforts to defend national sovereignty and interests and maintain national stability, security and development, and hopes that the United States can find a mutually acceptable solution within the framework of international law, according to the spokeswoman.
According to media reports on Sunday, U.S. personnel boarded tanker Bella 1, which flies the Panamanian flag and is under U.S. sanctions, as the ship was heading to Venezuela to load cargo.
One day earlier, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded the Centuries off Venezuela, a Panamanian-flagged supertanker that is not on U.S. sanctions list. On Dec. 10, U.S. forces seized the tanker Skipper near Venezuelan waters and announced the U.S. plans to keep its oil cargo.
On Dec. 16, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a "total and complete blockade" of sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela. https://english.news.cn/20251222/767425dc75e041129c08d748c17863f3/c.html
U.S. blockade of Venezuela act of piracy: Russian spokeswoman
