The response from Russia regarding the arrest of its ally in Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, has been surprisingly subdued as of Tuesday afternoon.
Moscow recommended that its citizens refrain from traveling to Venezuela, though it did not take significant action concerning Maduro’s unexpected return from a trip there on Saturday.
According to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, travelers to Venezuela face security risks due to “armed aggression by the United States,” including threats of attacks.
The ministry urged the suspension of package tours to Venezuela and allowed tourists to cancel trips for a full refund. Those already visiting were advised to remain cautious and follow guidance from local authorities and Russian diplomats.
The Russian embassy in Caracas stated that it was fully operational and unaware of any threats to Russian citizens there.
On Tuesday, Russia issued a statement that recognized Delcy Rodriguez as Venezuela’s interim president while condemning “blatant neo-colonial threats and foreign armed aggression,” without specifically naming the U.S. or President Donald Trump.
“We strongly insist that Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive external interference,” the Russian Foreign Ministry declared.
“We support the efforts by the country’s authorities to uphold national sovereignty and interests. Our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and government remains unwavering,” the statement continued.
Some in Russia expressed surprise at President Vladimir Putin’s lack of action to defend Maduro, his long-time ally.
On Tuesday, Al Jazeera discussed a Russian social media meme featuring Putin’s words, “We will not surrender to ourselves,” alongside images of allies who have fallen from grace, including Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad—all before Maduro. However, Putin has yet to publicly comment on Maduro’s arrest.
Discontented Russian military bloggers noted that U.S. forces had easily bypassed Russian air defenses to reach Maduro, raising questions about the reliability of Russian weaponry, already tarnished by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to Al Jazeera, analysts have theorized various reasons for Putin’s muted response, from distancing himself from Maduro during a meeting with Trump in Alaska last August to suggesting mutual respect between U.S. and Russian interests.
It seems possible that Putin, like other allies of Maduro, is being cautious so as not to jeopardize Russian investments and assets in Venezuela by provoking the United States. Galya Ibragimova of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace speculated that Putin might be worried about the potential for a similar surprise move against him.
Ibragimova remarked, “Putin’s biggest fear is that someone close to Maduro leaked information to the Americans, prompting him to prioritize his own security out of paranoia.”
On Tuesday, Politico noted a growing sense of frustration in Moscow as allied dictators fall while former partners shift towards the West, all amid the resurgence of what some are dubbing the “Donroe Doctrine” by President Trump.
Abbas Gallyamov, a former Kremlin speechwriter, commented, “Putin must be unbearably jealous. What he aspired to achieve in Ukraine, Trump managed in just 30 minutes.”
Gallyamov added, “Putin crafted a world where success is the only acceptable outcome. Meanwhile, Americans demonstrate how victories can be swiftly secured, highlighting Putin’s public humiliation.”
Russian nationalist Igor Gilkin expressed frustration, saying, “We’ve taken another hit to our image. Another nation expecting Russian support finds itself abandoned,” referencing the earlier U.S.-Israel tensions.
Another nationalist blogger, Alexander Dugin, lamented, “All of Russia is questioning why we don’t confront enemies like Trump does—doing better and faster.”
Politico joked that even Maduro can’t count on Putin for a final grand gesture, such as a luxurious hideaway.
With the war in Ukraine putting Russia in a precarious position, it seems unable to score political points by vocally criticizing Venezuela’s sovereignty, although some optimistic bloggers hope for reduced U.S. condemnation of Russia’s actions.
