Putin Remains Silent on US Abduction of Maduro

Geopolitical Context

A meme has gone viral on social media in Russia featuring a quote from President Vladimir Putin: "We do not abandon our own," alongside images of leaders he once considered key allies of Moscow. Among them are Muammar Gaddafi of Libya, who was overthrown and killed in 2011; Bashar al-Assad of Syria, who fled to Moscow in 2024; and Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine, who was deposed and arrived in Moscow in 2014.

An image depicting Putin alongside his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, has also gained attention, especially as Maduro was recently abducted by Delta Force commandos from the United States and is currently awaiting trial in New York for drug trafficking. Prior to his abduction, U.S. forces targeted Venezuela's Buk-2MA air defense systems and radars that had been supplied by Russia.

Moscow's Reactions

Moscow has condemned Maduro's capture as an "unacceptable act of armed aggression," yet Putin has refrained from commenting on the situation and has declined to intervene militarily. Observers note that Russia faces short-term consequences, with a deterioration in the Kremlin's international reputation, as well as long-term repercussions, particularly in strengthening its position in Ukraine and Central Asia.

"On one hand, Putin's prestige and reputation have suffered a negative impact, given that Maduro was his most loyal ally in Latin America. On the other hand, Trump's actions establish a new world order based on force rather than international law," stated Alisher Ilkhamov, an expert in international relations.

Implications for Russia and Relations with the US

The loss of Maduro does not present a major threat to Russia, as Kremlin-influenced individuals use his capture as a means of criticizing American "imperialism." However, experts suggest that abandoning Maduro will not help repair relations with Trump.

Moreover, some experts indicate that this situation may inspire plans for the abduction of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It is evident that Moscow remains vigilant in the face of geopolitical changes.