Putin backs Maduro in call amid U.S. pressure
The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin spoke by phone with Nicolás Maduro on Thursday and pledged support for Venezuela “in the face of growing external pressure,” discussing a strategic partnership and joint projects in energy and the economy. The call came a day after the U.S. seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast in a DOJ‑led operation confirmed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, as Washington ramps up military activity and sanctions enforcement targeting Maduro’s oil sector.
📌 Key Facts
- Kremlin readout (via Reuters) says Putin reassured Maduro of support and discussed advancing a strategic partnership and economic/energy projects.
- U.S. seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast in a multi‑agency operation (FBI, HSI, U.S. Coast Guard) confirmed by AG Pam Bondi with unclassified video released.
- The Trump administration has increased military activity in the Caribbean as part of its pressure campaign; Reuters reported the seizure contributed to oil price gains.
📊 Relevant Data
Venezuela's crude oil production was reported at 956,000 barrels per day in October 2025, a decrease from previous months and significantly lower than pre-sanctions levels, impacting the country's primary economic backbone.
Venezuela Crude Oil: Production, 2002 – 2025 — CEIC Data
Approximately 82.4 percent of Venezuelan households live in poverty conditions, with around 50.5 percent in extreme poverty as of a 2023 survey, contributing to the societal pressures driving migration and political instability.
Poverty and inequality in Venezuela - statistics & facts — Statista
The number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela has reached nearly 7.9 million globally as of recent data, with over 20 percent of the population having fled the country, leading to significant demographic changes including an 18 percent loss of the working-age population.
Venezuela situation — UNHCR
As of January 2025, approximately 607,000 Venezuelan nationals were estimated to be covered by Temporary Protected Status in the United States, reflecting the surge in Venezuelan immigration amid the crisis.
Venezuelan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
U.S. citizens accounted for 80 percent of all convicted drug traffickers in 2024, indicating that Venezuela plays a minor role in U.S.-bound drug trafficking despite claims of involvement.
US Citizens Were 80 Percent of All Convicted Drug Traffickers in 2024 — Cato Institute
Venezuela has received billions of dollars in Russian loans and financing, with investments and loans in the hydrocarbon sector amounting to USD 19 billion between 2009 and 2017, though no new loans were granted in August 2025.
Financial-economic and productive management of Russia's relations with Venezuela — Transparencia Venezuela