Russia

China said on Monday that Latin American countries are sovereign states with the right to choose their own international partners, responding to recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Beijing and Moscow could buy Venezuelan oil only under U.S. oversight.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, pressed the United States for clarity on its plans for Venezuela and raised a possible Russian asylum option for Nicolás Maduro days before a U.S. special operations raid captured the Venezuelan leader

China condemned the United States for what it called the "arbitrary" seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker on the high seas.

Russia accused the United States on Wednesday of violating international maritime law after U.S. forces seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic.

The U.S. is attempting to seize a sanctioned oil tanker that Russia has been seeking to protect, even sending armed naval forces to that end, according to a new report.

Russia has sent naval forces, including a submarine, to escort an oil tanker that has been fleeing seizure from the U.S. as part of its blockade of sanctioned vessels dealing with Venezuela, according to a new report.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that nearly 200 American troops entered central Caracas during a pre-dawn operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. forces are still planning to seize a runaway oil tanker to enforce its blockade off such vessels dealing with Venezuela, even despite it changed its name and was added to a Russian database.

The Russian government has formally requested its U.S. counterpart to stop pursuing the tanker that has been fleeing Washington forces after attempting to reach Venezuela.

The Bella 1, the sanctioned tanker fleeing U.S. forces, has formally changed its name and has been added to an official Russian database, according to a new report.

Russia accused the United States of "piracy and banditry" over the seizure of tankers off Venezuela, part of the Trump administration's campaign to remove authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Russia denied reports on Tuesday that it has begun evacuating staff from its embassy in Venezuela.

The company's legal representative, Andrey Shavkun, said the decision was beyond the control of either party and stemmed from conditions that make continued operations unviable

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he is not concerned about Russia's support for the Venezuelan regime as the Trump administration continues its campaign against the South American country.

Venezuela cautioned the U.S. about making a "fatal mistake" in its military campaign against Venezuela, adding that its recent decision to impose a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers "pose a threat to international shipping."

President Donald Trump is not concerned about Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the White House said

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a call with Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro, where he reiterated Moscow's support for Caracas.

Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro is increasingly isolated as Beijing and Moscow limit their support to rhetoric while focusing on other geopolitical priorities, according to regional analysts cited by BBC Mundo.

Rep. Mike Turner became the latest Republican lawmaker to express concern that the plan to end the war with Ukraine, which is backed by the White House, amounts to a capitulation to pro-Russian interests.

He also shared a letter sent by Vladimir Putin in which he reaffirmed Moscow's support and expressed confidence that Venezuela would "overcome all tests with dignity"

A sanctioned Russian oil tanker reversed course while en route to Venezuela after encountering a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Caribbean, according to vessel-tracking data reviewed by Bloomberg.

China has called on the United States to avoid interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs, responding to Washington's expanding military operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected receiving help requests from Venezuela as tensions between the South American country and the U.S. continue to escalate

Russia is signaling it could supply Venezuela with advanced hypersonic missiles as U.S. military activity intensifies near the country, according to The Times.

Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro said that his government maintains "daily and ongoing communication" with Russia, including on military matters, as the United States expands its naval presence near the country

The Russian Foreign Ministry had said last week that the countries would continue to work "side by side" and look to the future "with confidence"

The documents indicate that Venezuelan officials approached China and Iran with similar requests for equipment, including drones and electronic warfare tools

The Russian government appeared to send a warning to the Trump administration over its pressure campaign against Venezuela, saying Moscow stands "ready to respond appropriately to the requests of our partners in light of emerging threats."

A Russian cargo aircraft linked to Moscow's armed forces and the former Wagner mercenary group arrived in Caracas over the weekend as Venezuela highlights its Russian-supplied air-defense systems amid escalating tensions with the United States, according to a new report.

Former national security adviser John Bolton said in an interview that "overthrowing Nicolás Maduro is the only answer" for Venezuela's future and "for the security of the Western Hemisphere."