Russia moves to prevent regime change in Venezuela
According to media reports in recent days, the Chief of Staff of Russia’s Ground Forces General Vasily Tonkoshkurov, arrived in the capital of Venezuela with almost 100 troops. In addition, An-124 brought 35 tonnes of equipment. What arrived in containers is still unknown.
Vz.ru reported that the cargo plane arrived in Venezuela from Moscow through Syria.
The flights also carried officials who arrived to "exchange consultations," the state-funded Sputnik news agency reported, quoting an unnamed source at the Russian Embassy.
"Russia has various contracts that are in the process of being fulfilled, contracts of a technical military character," Sputnik cited the source as saying.
Flight-tracking data showed that an Ilyushin IL-62 passenger jet and an Antonov AN-124 military cargo plane left from Russia for Caracas on Friday, March 22.
Russian military officials arrived in Caracas to discuss strategy, equipment maintenance and training, an unnamed Venezuelan official told The Associated Press Monday.
Deployment of Russia-made S-300 air defense missiles
Israel-based Image Satellite International (ISI) has shared alleged satellite images of the deployment of Russia-made S-300 air defence missiles by the Venezuelan military to the Captain Manuel Rios Airbase in the Guarico state, a key airbase south of Caracas, amid simmering tensions in the region.
Venezuela's political crisis escalated on Sunday, March 24 when opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president in January, called on his supporters to prepare to take power in the country. Moscow, which backs President Nicolas Maduro's government, has previously said it would not allow a U.S.-backed regime change in the country.
Maduro enjoys strong support from Russia, which is eager to challenge US interventionism, as well as China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars Beijing has lent to Caracas.
The Duran’s Alex Christoforou and Editor-in-Chief Alexander Mercouris discuss more about this.
Comments