Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the United States on Tuesday for its actions in Venezuela and threats towards Iran amidst protests within the country, accusing Washington of undermining the global system it once helped build.
Lavrov's remarks came during a press conference alongside Namibia's foreign minister in Moscow, where he condemned a U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, labeling the action a "gross violation of international law." The Russian official also said that the United States, by pursuing unilateral military actions and pressure campaigns, was weakening the very framework of international relations.
"This and other actions in the international arena indicate the line of our American colleagues to break the entire system that has been created for many years with their participation," he said. Lavrov argued that globalization and established norms of diplomatic conduct were being "flushed down the drain."
Lavrov's comments aligned with broader Russian rhetoric criticizing U.S. involvement in Latin America, particularly in the wake of a bold U.S. military operation early this month in which Maduro was captured. In a military operation at the beginning of the month, the United States seized conducted missile strikes on the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, and captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.
He was then transported to New York and is currently facing trial for charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation, and weapons offenses tied to alleged state-sponsored drug trafficking networks that supplied cocaine into the United States, alongside other corruption and violence allegations.
In addition to Russia's public condemnations, international reactions have been sharply polarized as many governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America condemned the actions as a breach of international norms, while most European and North American NATO members offered support to the operation.
Lavrov also addressed recent reports of U.S. threats against Iran, insisting that no external power could change the nature of the Russia-Iran relationship and underscoring Moscow's commitment to existing agreements with Tehran. Lavrov said that Russia and Iran would continue to honor their bilateral commitments despite American pressure.
Lavrov suggested that U.S. behavior was damaging Washington's global image and credibility. "Our American colleagues look unreliable when they act in this way," he said, portraying the United States as abandoning the very principles it has historically championed.
Meanwhile, the United States administration maintains that its actions are legally justified and necessary for regional stability. U.S. officials have said that the Venezuela operation as part of a broader strategy to counter drug trafficking, protect democratic processes, and reduce foreign influence from adversarial powers in the Western Hemisphere.
