Discussion
…But #Russia remains the primary lifeline for #Maduro. On Sunday, an Ilyushin Il-76—one of the Russian aircraft sanctioned in 2023 by the #US for participating in the arms trade & transporting mercenaries—arrived in #Caracas, #Venezuela’s capital, after a circuitous route over Africa to avoid Western airspace, according to Flightradar24. The Kremlin declined to comment on the letter.
Just a day earlier, Moscow ratified a new strategic treaty with Caracas.
In a letter meant for the eyes of #Russia’s leader, Venezuelan President Nicolás #Maduro made multiple requests this month. #Trump’s admin was targeting ships off the South American coast & rattling sabers in Washington. #Venezuela needed President Vladimir #Putin’s help.
The asks included overhauls of defensive radars, military aircraft repairs & potentially missiles, according to internal US government documents obtained by The Washington Post.
The Venezuelan government, according to the documents, is also reaching out to #China & #Iran, soliciting #military assistance & equipment to strengthen the country’s defenses. #Maduro composed a letter to Chinese President #Xi Jinping seeking “expanded military cooperation” between their two countries to counter “the escalation between the #US & #Venezuela.”
…But #Russia remains the primary lifeline for #Maduro. On Sunday, an Ilyushin Il-76—one of the Russian aircraft sanctioned in 2023 by the #US for participating in the arms trade & transporting mercenaries—arrived in #Caracas, #Venezuela’s capital, after a circuitous route over Africa to avoid Western airspace, according to Flightradar24. The Kremlin declined to comment on the letter.
Just a day earlier, Moscow ratified a new strategic treaty with Caracas.
The machinations shows how much #Russia stands to lose should #Venezuela’s embattled leader fall. High-profile projects between the two countries continue to roll out, including a Kalashnikov munitions factory that opened in July in the Venezuelan state of Aragua, about 20 years after it was pledged. Moscow also has exploration rights for potentially billions of dollars in untapped natural gas & oil reserves.
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