State Duma ratifies strategic partnership treaty between Russia, Venezuela

Moscow. State Duma
Photo: State Duma

State Duma members ratified the Treaty on Strategic Partnership and Cooperation between Russia and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at a plenary meeting on Tuesday, TASS reports.

The bilateral agreement, signed in Moscow on May 7, 2025, was submitted by Russian President Vladimir Putin to the lower house of parliament earlier this month.

The agreement broadens the scope of interaction and cooperation between the two countries in the political and economic spheres, covering energy, mineral resources, transport, communications, and the fight against terrorism and extremism.

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has noted previously that the document will bring "Russian-Venezuelan relations to a new level, spanning the key spheres of bilateral cooperation."

Lawmakers in Venezuela ratified the accord on September 30, and on October 7, President Nicolas Maduro signed a decree enacting the document.

The ratification of the strategic partnership and cooperation agreement between Russia and Venezuela marks a significant step toward fostering development and stability throughout Latin America, stated Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the State Duma, during a plenary session of the lower house of parliament.

"Today’s ratification signifies concrete progress toward peace, growth, and stability not only for Venezuela but for the entire region," Volodin affirmed.

He highlighted Venezuela’s current predicament, describing it as a "challenging and tumultuous situation" compounded by external pressures. Nevertheless, he emphasized that those attempting to "bring an entire nation to its knees" will ultimately fail.

"A multipolar world is no longer a distant vision but a present reality. We must do everything possible to ensure that Venezuela has the greatest possible opportunity to realize its potential as a sovereign, independent nation," he concluded.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov highlighted the significance of the ratification of a strategic partnership and cooperation agreement with Venezuela amid what he called unprecedented military pressure on the Latin American republic from the United States.

"Such synchronized ratification processes would be very important in a situation where unprecedented military pressure is being exerted, including directly, on Venezuela by the United States," the senior Russian diplomat emphasized in a speech at the State Duma.

According to him, Moscow expects Caracas to present a note of ratification of the bilateral strategic partnership agreement soon.

"I’d like to announce that [interstate] procedures are nearing completion in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We expect to receive a note of completion of all procedures necessary for that in the coming days," Ryabkov said.

He expressed confidence that Russia and Venezuela will take further steps "toward developing political, trade-economic and cultural relations" and that the two countries will sign more bilateral documents spanning various spheres of cooperation of mutual interest.

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