Russia’s foreign ministry today reaffirmed its support for Venezuela’s leaders and denounced “excessive military force” by the United States in the Caribbean Sea deployed as part of a drive against drug trafficking.

“We firmly denounce the use of excessive military force in carrying out actions in anti-drugs operations,” foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a commentary on her ministry’s website. “Such actions are in violation of both U.S. domestic legislation … and the norms of international law.”

A U.S. campaign in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific against what Washington says is the illegal drug trade has targeted at least 14 boats and killed 61 people.

The United States has built up a large military presence in the Caribbean in recent months, with fighter jets, wars

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