Turkey’s Strategic Support for the Maduro Regime Deserves Attention

Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro long had a friend in President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In addition to diplomatic cover, under the Turkish leader, the regime in Caracas received an economic lifeline that helped it evade international sanctions and stay in power. In a January 5 phone call with President Donald Trump, Erdogan criticized Maduro’s removal from power two days earlier, stating, “We do not condone any action that violates political legitimacy and international law, anywhere in the world.”

Growth of Turkish-Venezuelan Ties

Maduro was among the first world leaders to condemn the 2016 coup that attempted to remove Erdogan from power –– a favor Erdogan reciprocated. In early 2019, the Turkish president condemned U.S. and international recognition of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the state’s rightful leader. While Maduro unleashed his secret police and armed gangs (the colectivos) on civilian protesters, Erdogan urged him to “stand tall … Turkey stands with you.” 

The relationship goes far beyond mutual good will, however. With friendlier ties have come greater economic cooperation. In just a single year, from 2016 to 2017, trade between the two countries grew from less than $200 million to $1.1 billion.

Turkey: A Lifeline for Maduro’s Regime

Despite U.S. sanctions, since 2024, Turkish companies have invested in Venezuelan oil, gas, petrochemical, and mining sectors, making agreements on natural gas development and $750 million for a Turkish-funded fertilizer plant. Additionally, Turkey refined and purchased gold that provided hard currency to Caracas. That business generated nearly $900 million in trade in 2019 alone, the latest year for which data is available.

Calling Turkey To Account for Helping Maduro

Turkey’s multifaceted assistance to the Maduro government evolved from rhetorical solidarity to substantive economic support, undercutting sanctions and prolonging Maduro’s authoritarian regime. The Trump administration should identify and punish Turkish-linked entities and individuals tied to circumventing sanctions against Venezuela by designating them for sanctions themselves. Given the persistence of the Venezuelan regime, Maduro’s personal fate should not constitute grounds for granting Turkey immunity for violations of U.S. sanctions. Under the provisions of Executive Order 13884, complicit foreign nationals should be denied entry into the United States and their U.S. assets should be frozen. Additionally, diplomatic pressure should be applied that highlights the incongruity of a NATO ally aiding a sanctioned regime.

Sinan Ciddi is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). For more analysis from Sinan and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow Sinan on X @SinanCiddi. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focused on national security and foreign policy.