The action carried out overnight by the US was called an act of "international piracy" by Caracas.

16:47, Thu, Dec 11, 2025 Updated: 16:56, Thu, Dec 11, 2025

President Putin

Vladimir Putin called Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro today (Image: Getty)

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Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the Kremlin reported hours after the US seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. A Kremlin statement reaffirmed support for Caracas despite increasing pressure from US President Donald Trump for Maduro to leave office.

The Kremlin said in a statement: "Vladimir Putin expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and reaffirmed support for the Maduro government's policies aimed at safeguarding national interests and sovereignty amid mounting external pressures."

It comes amid increasing tensions in the region, with the US carrying out a huge military build-up in the Caribbean. Their forces seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela on Wednesday (December 10).

Trump said it was "the largest one ever seized" while Caracas labelled the action an act of "international piracy". Footage released by the US government shows armed soldiers boarding the vessel.

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