Russia has reacted sharply to the United States’ growing military presence near ally Venezuela, warning Washington to respect international law. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Venezuela is a sovereign nation and that any action involving it must comply with global legal norms. The warning follows the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to the Caribbean and recent U.S. strikes on alleged “narco-boats” that killed 14 people. President Donald Trump claimed the attacks were part of a broader war on drugs, while Caracas condemned them as imperialist provocations aimed at regime change. Days earlier, President Vladimir Putin ratified a new Russia-Venezuela strategic cooperation treaty, with Nicolás Maduro calling Moscow “reborn from the ashes.” Tensions further escalated as Venezuela’s parliament declared Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar persona non grata, accusing her of granting CIA and U.S. military access to regional bases. The region now stands on edge, with Moscow signalling that any U.S. intervention in Venezuela will have serious consequences.