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Russia reportedly pulls diplomats’ families out of Venezuela

Russia is reportedly removing its diplomats’ families from Venezuela, though the country has denied claims that it is evacuating its embassy.

Hannah Hiester
Hannah Hiester
· 3 min read
Russia reportedly pulls diplomats’ families out of Venezuela

  • Russia is reportedly withdrawing diplomats’ families from Venezuela amid rising tensions, though Moscow denies evacuation of its embassy.

  • The move follows increased U.S. pressure after President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade targeting sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers last week.

  • Russia has criticized U.S. actions, reaffirmed military and diplomatic cooperation with Venezuela, and warned against American military intervention.

  • The U.S. has seized or pursued multiple sanctioned oil tankers this month and intensified efforts to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

Following an escalation of U.S. pressure on Venezuela last week when President Donald Trump announced a naval blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving the South American country, Russia is reportedly removing its diplomats’ families from Venezuela, though the country has denied claims that it is evacuating its embassy.

According to The Times, Russia and Venezuela committed to “military-technical” co-operation in May and Russia has warned against U.S. military intervention. AP News reported that Russia has opposed Trump’s blockade and Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Yván Gil reportedly spoke about the situation by phone Dec. 22 with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“We reviewed the aggressions and flagrant violations of international law that have been committed in the Caribbean: attacks against vessels and extrajudicial executions, and the unlawful acts of piracy carried out by the United States government,” Gil stated, according to AP News.

Despite the friendly relations between the two countries, an anonymous European intelligence official reportedly told AP News that Russia is pulling women and children from diplomats’ Venezuelan residences, saying that the Russian Foreign Ministry is assessing the unfolding scene in Venezuela in “very grim tones.” In a Dec. 22 post on X, however, the Ministry called reports that it is evacuating the embassy “a lie” and warned against falling for “Western provocations.” The Ministry did not address reports that the families are being evacuated.

According to AP News, Trump hinted in an announcement Dec. 22 at a willingness to increase pressure on Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro. Flanked by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, he revealed plans for a new Navy battleship and cautioned Maduro against causing the U.S. to take more drastic measures against the country.

“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” Trump said.

AP News reported that the U.S. Coast Guard is currently chasing a sanctioned oil tanker, the third tanker pursued by the Coast Guard this month. As Zeale previously reported, the U.S. seized an oil tanker Dec. 10 and said the vessel belonged to an illicit shipping network that supports foreign terrorist organizations. According to AP News, a second sanctioned tanker was seized Dec. 20.

The outlet also reported that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Dec. 22 that seizing sanctioned oil tankers is intended to convey “a message around the world that the illegal activity that Maduro is participating in cannot stand, he needs to be gone, and that we will stand up for our people.”