Moscow’s foreign ministry officials are assessing the situation in Venezuela in “very grim tones”, according to a European intelligence official.
The evacuation of families began last Friday, the official told the Associated Press, as Washington increases its military operations and threats against Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
Responding to the report, the Russian foreign ministry said it was not evacuating its embassy in Caracas, but did not address questions about whether some diplomatic families were being flown out.
The claims come amid growing tensions in the region, with the US striking alleged drug-running boats coming from Venezuela and its naval forces pressing a blockade against the country’s oil wealth
Donald Trump has accused Mr Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking cartel and said it “would be smart” for him to step down. The US bounty on his head currently sits at $50m (£37.5m).
In a new warning to the Venezuelan leader, Mr Trump said on Monday that he was prepared to further escalate his four-month campaign of military and diplomatic pressure on the Maduro government.
“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’ll ever be able to play tough,” the US president said in Florida as he announced plans for the US navy to build a new warship
On the same day, Russia, a key ally of Venezuela, pledged its “full support and solidarity” to the country’s leadership, expressing “deep concern” over the situation in the Caribbean.
Last week, Russia urged the US not to make the “fatal mistake” of embarking on military intervention in Venezuela, warning that any escalation of the situation “could lead to unpredictable consequences for the entire Western Hemisphere”
