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By Jesus Mesa and Gabe Whisnant
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Russia has suggested it could send its most advanced hypersonic missiles to Venezuela as tensions with the United States escalate.
Alexei Zhuravlyov, deputy chairman of Russia’s parliamentary defense committee, told Russian news outlet Gazeta.Ru there were “no obstacles” to providing the Oreshnik or Kalibr missiles to the “friendly” nation.
“Russia is actually one of Venezuela’s key military-technical partners. We supply the country with nearly the entire range of weapons, from small arms to aviation. The details and volumes of deliveries are classified, so the Americans might be in for a surprise. I see no obstacles to providing our friendly nation with new systems such as the Oreshnik or the well-proven Kalibr missiles. No international commitments restrict Russia in this regard,” Zhuravlyov said.
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Why It Matters
Tensions in the region have grown in recent months as the U.S. has increased its military presence near Venezuelan waters. The Trump administration has deployed fighter jets, bombers, drones, spy planes, warships and Marines to the region, citing efforts to curb drug trafficking. These operations have resulted in more than a dozen strikes and over 60 deaths since September, with many of the alleged traffickers having departed from Venezuela.
In response, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has reportedly reached out to Russia, China and Iran to request military assistance.
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What To Know
Russia has signaled openness to the request and escalated its rhetoric.
Zhuravlyov emphasized that the U.S. should expect the unexpected: “The details and volumes of deliveries are classified, so the Americans might be in for a surprise,” he said.
The Oreshnik missile, according to Moscow, is an intermediate-range ballistic missile capable of reaching speeds of Mach 10 and can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads. Russian President Vladimir Putin described the missile as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) that is able to travel long distances at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10.
Russia and Venezuela have signed multiple agreements in recent years, including a strategic partnership treaty aimed at expanding military and economic cooperation. The deepening of this alliance comes as both countries seek to counterbalance U.S. influence in Latin America and beyond.
The threat to place nuclear-capable missiles in the Western Hemisphere could lead to tensions not seen since the Cuban missile crisis. While no final decisions have been announced, the public floating of such a scenario is an escalation in rhetoric.
Officials within the Trump administration have prepared a series of military plans aimed at Venezuela, according to multiple unnamed U.S. officials briefed by The New York Times. Chief among the proposed objectives are targeting Venezuelan military units protecting Maduro and seeking control of oil fields central to the country’s ailing economy.
However, both President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have downplayed the likelihood of the U.S. going to war with Venezuela but suggested that Maduro’s time as the country’s leader may soon be coming to an end.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump speaking to 60 Minutes on Sunday: "I doubt it. I don’t think so. But they’ve been treating us very badly, not only on drugs—they’ve dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country that we didn’t want, people from prisons-- they emptied their prisons into our country."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state news agency Tass on Sunday: “We are watching very closely what is happening in Venezuela. Of course, we want everything to remain peaceful and for no new conflicts to arise in the region.”
U.S. Representative María Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican, told Newsweek: "The Trump administration is doing exactly what it needs to do—remove from power an illegitimate president, someone who stole last year’s election after promising to abide by the Barbados Accord."
What Happens Next
The administration has yet to respond to the Russian statement. It is yet to be seen if strikes will continue on Venezuelan vessels.
Update 11/4/25, 5:15 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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