Trump: ‘Smart’ for Maduro to Step Down as U.S. Presses Oil Blockade on Venezuela

President Donald Trump said Monday it would be “smart” for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down, amid a U.S. naval blockade targeting Venezuela’s oil wealth.

However, Moscow has expressed its “full support” for Maduro’s government as Washington escalates military operations and threats against Caracas. When asked by reporters at his Florida home whether U.S. actions were designed to force Maduro from power after 12 years, Trump stated: “That’s up to him, what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that.” He added: “If he wants to do something — if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough.”

The earlier pledge of support from Moscow came ahead of a UN Security Council meeting Tuesday to address the crisis. In a phone call, foreign ministers of Russia and Venezuela condemned U.S. actions, which include strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels and recent seizures of two oil tankers. A third ship was being pursued, according to a U.S. official.

The Russian foreign ministry stated that its minister Sergei Lavrov and Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil agreed to “coordinate their actions on the international stage,” particularly at the UN. Both nations reaffirmed their support for Caracas’ request for a Security Council meeting to discuss what they called U.S. aggression in the region.

Under Trump’s orders, U.S. forces launched Caribbean and Pacific strikes against vessels Washington claims transport drugs since September. More than 100 people have been killed — some fishermen, per families and governments — in these operations. Last week, Trump announced a blockade of “sanctioned oil vessels” moving between Venezuela and international ports.

Trump asserts Caracas uses oil revenues to fund “drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder and kidnapping,” while accusing Venezuela of taking “all of our oil.” The Venezuelan government counters that Washington seeks regime change and calls U.S. actions “international piracy.”

Moscow’s statement highlighted Lavrov’s affirmation of “full support in the face of hostilities against our country” and cited shared concerns about U.S. attacks on vessels, extrajudicial executions, and acts of piracy. Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed Moscow’s backing for Caracas, noting Washington is “not concerned about an escalation with Russia” over Venezuela as “they have their hands full in Ukraine.”

Venezuelan President Maduro recently warned nations via state television that the U.S. blockade would disrupt global oil and energy supplies.