Presidents congratulate Maduro on electoral victory in Venezuela

Peace. Bolivian President Luis Arce today congratulated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on his recent electoral victory in Venezuela and reaffirmed the “sovereign integration” of both countries.

“We congratulate the Venezuelan people and President Nicolás Maduro for the electoral victory of this historic July 28 (…) we have closely followed this democratic celebration and we welcome the fact that the will of the Venezuelan people has been respected at the polls,” Arce said in a message posted around midnight on Sunday on the social network X.

Arce reaffirmed Bolivia’s determination to strengthen ties of friendship, cooperation and solidarity with Venezuela, “within the framework of the sovereign integration of our peoples and in the shared objective of moving towards a multipolar world.”

Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa joined in the congratulations and greeted Venezuelans for “an election day that took place in a peaceful and tranquil environment.”

Meanwhile, former Bolivian President Evo Morales (2006-2019), close to Maduro, celebrated that “they won against all external adversities,” thanks to the “support of the Venezuelan people.”

“This is a triumph for peace, for the Bolivarian Revolution and for the Great Homeland. Today we have irrefutable proof that Chavez is alive. Congratulations, brother Nicolas! Congratulations to my beloved Venezuela!” he wrote on his X account.

Vladimir Putin congratulates Maduro

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday congratulated Nicolas Maduro on winning Venezuela’s disputed election, and the Kremlin said it was deepening cooperation in all areas — including sensitive ones — with Caracas.

Maduro and his opposition rival Edmundo Gonzalez claimed victory in the presidential election, while Washington and other foreign governments cast doubt on the official results that gave the incumbent the victory.

The National Electoral Council (CNE) said just after midnight that Maduro had won a third term with 51 percent of the vote, a result that would prolong socialist rule that has lasted a quarter of a century.

Putin backed Maduro, 61, an ally who has accused the United States and the West of fuelling the war in Ukraine, saying Moscow enjoyed a strategic partnership with the South American state and that Maduro was always welcome in Russia.

“Russian-Venezuelan relations have the character of a strategic partnership,” Putin said in a message to Maduro, according to the Kremlin. “I am confident that your activities at the head of state will continue to contribute to its progressive development in all directions.”

“This fully meets the interests of our friendly peoples and is in line with building a more just and democratic world order,” Putin said.

“I would like to confirm our readiness to continue our constructive joint work on current issues on the bilateral and international agenda,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington was seriously concerned that the results announced by the electoral authority did not reflect the votes of the people. The authority is theoretically an independent body, but the opposition says it acts as an arm of the Maduro government.

But Moscow sees Venezuela as a key partner in Latin America and the two sanctioned states have cooperated over the past two decades in areas such as oil, weapons and military exercises.

Asked whether Russia would step up its cooperation with Venezuela, including in defence matters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We are developing our relations with Venezuela in all areas, including sensitive ones.”

“Such cooperation is in the interest of both the Venezuelan and Russian people, and we will comprehensively develop our relations with Venezuela,” Peskov said.

Putin ended his message to Maduro: “Remember that you will always be a welcome guest on Russian soil.”

China congratulates Maduro on his re-election

China congratulated Venezuela on its successful presidential election and congratulated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on his successful re-election, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Monday.

Lin made the remarks at a daily press briefing when asked to comment on the Venezuelan elections.

Noting that China and Venezuela are good friends and partners, Lin said China attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations and is willing to work with Venezuela to continuously enrich the China-Venezuela all-weather strategic partnership and bring more benefits to both peoples.