The intensifying geopolitical fallout from the U.S. Capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is extending to the energy sector, with Russian companies facing increasing pressure to exit the Venezuelan market. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Thursday that Russian firms are experiencing deliberate attempts to force them out of Venezuela following the January 3rd operation that resulted in Maduro’s arrest.
“Open attempts are being made to expel our companies from Venezuela,” Lavrov said in an interview with RT, as reported by . He framed this as part of a broader pattern of the U.S. Seeking to displace Russian economic influence globally. “India is prohibited from buying Russian oil. At least that’s what has been announced. Everyone is prohibited from buying it. Both oil, and gas. Everywhere they say that Russian oil and gas will be replaced by American oil and liquefied natural gas,” Lavrov added.
The pressure on Russian energy interests in Venezuela comes as the U.S. Tightens a blockade targeting sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuelan waters, according to reporting from . This blockade is designed to further restrict the Maduro government’s revenue streams and exert maximum economic pressure.
Petrolera Cyprus Limited (PCL), formerly a subsidiary of Rosneft, announced its intention to terminate operations in Venezuela, citing the “combined impact of international sanctions and the financial restrictions imposed on the energy sector and entities controlled by the Russian state.” A notice circulated to employees and published by investigative journalist Roberto Deniz detailed the company’s “structural incapacity” to continue operating. PCL’s legal representative, Andrey Shavkun, confirmed the decision was unavoidable given the prevailing conditions.
The withdrawal of PCL, and the broader pressure on Russian companies, represents a significant shift in the Venezuelan energy landscape. Rosneft had been a key financial backer of the Maduro regime, providing crucial investment and expertise to prop up Venezuela’s struggling oil industry. The U.S. Has long sought to sever these ties, viewing them as a lifeline for Maduro and a source of instability in the region.
While PCL has pledged to fully honor workers’ rights and adhere to Venezuelan labor laws in its exit, the termination of labor relations, slated to begin on , will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the Venezuelan workforce. The company will begin the legal process to pay severance, accrued benefits, and other compensation under the Organic Labor Law (LOTTT), with the process supervised by the labor ministry.
The situation highlights the increasing risks associated with investing in Venezuela, even for companies willing to navigate the complex web of international sanctions. The U.S. Operation to capture Maduro, and the subsequent tightening of economic pressure, has created an environment of extreme uncertainty for foreign investors.
Russia’s muted response to Maduro’s capture, beyond strong diplomatic condemnations from Lavrov and demands for his release, has been noted by analysts. According to the Atlantic Council, Putin himself has not publicly commented on the operation. Lavrov’s phone call to acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez expressing “strong solidarity” and the Russian foreign ministry’s public demand for Maduro’s release represent the extent of Moscow’s immediate reaction.
This limited response is attributed, in part, to Russia’s own economic and military constraints. As the Atlantic Council points out, Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine has stretched its military and weakened its economy, limiting its ability to project power and provide meaningful support to allies like Venezuela. Putin’s priority remains the situation in Ukraine, and resources are heavily focused on that conflict.
The withdrawal of Russian oil firms like PCL further underscores the U.S.’s success in isolating the Maduro regime and disrupting its access to vital financial and technical support. The U.S. Is effectively leveraging its economic power to reshape the geopolitical landscape in Venezuela, and the departure of Russian companies is a tangible consequence of this strategy.
Roszarubezhneft, the state-controlled entity that previously administered Rosneft’s assets in Venezuela, affirmed its commitment to fulfilling its obligations in Venezuela on , but has remained largely silent in the weeks since, particularly as several tankers associated with what is described as a “phantom fleet” have been detained. This silence suggests the company is reassessing its position and preparing for a potential full exit.
Lavrov’s condemnation of the U.S. Intervention as a “gross violation of international law” reflects Russia’s broader concerns about the erosion of international norms and the increasing unilateralism of U.S. Foreign policy. He argued that the U.S. Is abandoning principles it once promoted and is becoming an “unreliable” partner on the world stage. This rhetoric is consistent with Russia’s increasingly assertive stance against what it perceives as U.S. Hegemony.
