Russia Condemns U.S. Strike on Alleged Drug-Laden Ship Near Venezuela

Russia on Sunday condemned a U.S. strike on a vessel allegedly carrying illegal narcotics off the coast of Venezuela, warning of the potential for escalating tensions and instability across the Caribbean region.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, President Vladimir Putin’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke by phone with his Venezuelan counterpart Yván Gil to discuss the incident and its wider implications.

“Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia strongly condemns the latest attack carried out by U.S. armed forces on October 3 in international waters near Venezuela,” the ministry said in a statement.

Both ministers expressed serious concern over Washington’s increasing military activities in the Caribbean, warning that such actions could have far-reaching consequences for regional stability.

The October 3 strike reportedly killed four people aboard a vessel the United States claimed was transporting “large quantities of narcotics intended to poison our citizens.”

Moscow cautioned that “there is no certainty the United States will not link its declared war on drug cartels to the situation in Haiti,” hinting at fears of U.S. military overreach under the pretext of counter-narcotics operations.

Russia also warned against broad interpretations of a recent U.N. Security Council resolution, which calls for expanding the size and mandate of the underfunded, 15-month-old international security mission tasked with combating armed gangs in Haiti.

Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained from voting on the U.S.- and Panama-sponsored resolution, while the remaining 13 members of the Council voted in favor.

“The Russian side reaffirmed its full support and solidarity with the leadership and people of Venezuela in the current context,” the ministry’s statement concluded.