The leaders of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and China, Xi Jinping, expressed their commitment to continue collaborating with Venezuela and Cuba, despite the pressures from the United States and the challenges faced by both Caribbean countries, according to Russian presidential adviser Yuri Ushakov. «The leaders exchanged their views on the situation concerning Venezuela and Cuba.» They expressed support for continuing the level of collaboration established with Caracas and Havana, he stated in a telephone press conference. According to Ushakov, Putin and Xi also «paid attention to the situation concerning Iran,» and the Russian president informed his Chinese counterpart about the meeting he had with Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, on January 30 at the Kremlin. Both Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran are being pressured by the United States, which earlier this year arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, labelled Havana a threat to its national security, and warns of carrying out military attacks against Iran if it does not abandon its nuclear programme. Russia and China opposed the detention of Maduro and have criticised the embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba, as well as the restrictions attempting to block the shipment of oil to the island. They have also extended their support to Tehran, which has been affected by protests, after United States President Donald Trump dispatched naval forces to waters near Iran in order to exert pressure on the Persian nation.
