Alex Christoforou
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and International Affairs and Security Analyst via Moscow, Mark Sleboda take a look at Russia’s military cooperation with Venezuela, and how this military partnership leaves neocons in Washington crying ‘Russian aggression’.
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Why Are Russian Tu – 160 Nuclear Bombers In Venezuela? by The Duran
The Duran Quick Take: Episode 40. The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and International Affairs and Security Analyst via Moscow, Mark Sleboda take a look at Russia’s military cooperation with Venezuela, and how this military partnership leaves neocons in Washington crying ‘Russian aggression’.
Via Press TV…
A pair of Tu-160 bombers, known as Blackjack”, landed in Caracas on Monday following a 6,200-mile flight, which is said to be aimed at showcasing Moscow’s growing military prowess and shoring up the position of Venezuela’s embattled president, Nicolás Maduro.
The planes touched down at the Simón Bolívar international airport as part of a larger fleet also including an An-124 military transport plane and an Il-62 passenger jet
The Russian defense ministry said the bombers were shadowed by Norwegian F-18 fighter jets during part of their flight.
Venezuela’s defense minister, Vladimir Padrino López, said the arrival of the aircraft for joint maneuvers was not intended as a provocation. “We are makers of peace, not war,” he was quoted as saying by the state broadcaster Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).
Russia’s ambassador in Caracas, Vladimir Zaemskiy, told VTV the deployment reflected the “very fruitful” military partnership that had developed since the relationship was forged by Venezuela’s late leader Hugo Chávez in 2005.
However, specialists say the move is designed to signal to Washington that Caracas is not without international support.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at last week’s meeting with Lopez that Russia would continue to send its military aircraft and warships to visit Venezuela as part of bilateral military cooperation.
Russia sent its Tu-160 strategic bombers and a missile cruiser to visit Venezuela in 2008 amid tensions with the US after Russia’s brief war with Georgia. A pair of Tu-160s also visited Venezuela in 2013.
Russia-US relations are currently at post-Cold War lows over Ukraine, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US election. Russia has bristled at the US and other NATO allies deploying their troops and weapons near its borders.
Asked about the Russian bombers, Pentagon spokesman Col. Rob Manning said he had no specific information about the deployment.
The bombers’ deployment follows Venezuelan President Maduro’s visit to Moscow last week in a bid to shore up political and economic assistance even as his country has been struggling to pay billions of dollars owed to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday voiced support for Venezuelan leader, telling him, “We support your efforts to achieve mutual understanding in society and all your actions aimed at normalizing relations with the opposition.”
Russia is a major political ally of Venezuela, which has become increasingly isolated in the world under growing sanctions led by the US and the European Union, which accuse Maduro of undermining democratic institutions to hold onto power, while overseeing an economic and political crisis that is worse than the Great Depression.
Hit by low oil prices and the impact of US sanctions, Maduro is seeking support from allies after winning a second presidential term this year.
Maduro, who took over following the death of Hugo Chavez in 2013, has come under strong pressure from US President Donald Trump’s administration.
After talks last year between Maduro and Putin, Russia, Venezuela’s major creditor, agreed to restructure $3.15 billion of debt from a loan taken out by Caracas in 2011 to finance the purchase of Russian arms.
Russia and Venezuela enjoy a long history of ties and Maduro’s predecessor Chavez, known for his passionate tirades against the United States, was a welcome guest at the Kremlin.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
The two planes did NOT land in Caracas – the Simon Bolivar International Airport is in Maiquetia – at sea level.
TASS and Nezavisimaya Gazeta report that Venezuelan president Maduro has invited Russia to establish an air base on the Caribbean island of La Orchila, which is Venezuelan territory. The Russians will station Tu-160 strategic bomber warplanes on Orchila island on a permanent basis and will train Venezuela’s air force from there. I suppose that this is Russia’s answer to the US stationing military very close to Russian borders in Eastern Europe.
Why is NATO massing troops on the Russian Border and dispatching combat ships toward Russian Territorial waters in the Black Sea? It is a game of brinksmanship that any number of sovereign nations can play.
I have read that the US might have plans to stage a false flag in Columbia which will be blamed on Venezuela and Columbia will go to war with them with the help of US. If I remember where I read that I’ll post it here.