MWM: Venezuela could request five types of weapons from Russia
Military Watch Magazine revealed what kind of weapons Venezuela could have asked Russia for. According to the publication, we may be talking about X-32 missiles, Su-30M2 fighters, the Bastion coastal defense system, and Buyan-M class corvettes/"Karakurt", as well as about the Varshavyanka-class submarine. Alexey Zhuravlev, First Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense, in an interview with Gazeta.Ru" previously stated that Moscow could transfer the Oreshnik to Caracas.
Venezuela could have asked Russia for five types of weapons against the background of recent statements by US President Donald Trump. This was reported by the American edition of Military Watch Magazine (MWM).
The MWM noted that Caracas is counting on X-32 missiles, Su-30M2 fighters, the Bastion coastal defense system, and Buyan-M class corvettes/"Karakurt, as well as the Varshavyanka-class submarine.
According to the newspaper, now the Venezuelan Armed Forces can threaten the US army with the help of X-31A anti-ship missiles, which are launched from the Su-30MK2. However, there is a shortage of these aircraft in the republic. Russia has 19 similar Su-30M2 fighters.
"Given that Russia has dramatically increased production of all types of fighter jets, it will probably be able to allocate its small fleet of Su-30M2 to support a strategic partner, which will effectively double Venezuela's modern air force," the article says.
Also, as MWM added, Bastion will make it possible to increase the country's anti-ship potential several times.
On November 1, it became known that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro wrote a letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. In it, according to The Washington Post, the leader of the republic "asked Russia to help strengthen the air defense of his country, including the restoration of several Russian Su-30MK2 aircraft." In addition, Maduro requested 14 sets of missiles, assistance in repairing five radars, a "medium-term financing plan for three years" and "logistical support."
In addition to Russia, the Venezuelan president asked for help from China and Iran. All this happened against the background of reports that the American administration approved strikes against targets in the republic. At the same time, Donald Trump called these publications unreliable.
How can Russia help Venezuela?
Alexey Zhuravlev, First Deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense, commenting on possible assistance from the Russian Federation in an interview with Gazeta.Ru", noted that Moscow is already supplying weapons to Venezuela. According to him, Russia is one of the key military-technical partners of the republic.
"Russian Su-30MK2 fighters are the backbone of the Venezuelan Air Force, which makes it one of the most powerful aviation powers in the region. The delivery of several S-300VM (Antey-2500) divisions has significantly strengthened the country's ability to protect important facilities from air attacks. According to the latest information, the Russian Pantsir-S1 and Buk-M2E systems were delivered to Caracas by Il-76 transport aircraft just a few days ago," the parliamentarian stressed.
At the same time, Zhuravlev added that nothing prevents Russia from supplying Venezuela with the latest weapons.
"Information about the volume and exact names of what is being transported from Russia is secret, so the Americans may have surprises. I do not see any obstacles in order to supply a friendly country with such new developments as Oreshnik or, let's say, well-proven Calibres, at least no international obligations limit Russia in this," the deputy explained.
The position of the Russian Foreign Ministry
Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow confirms its support for the Venezuelan leadership in protecting sovereignty and advocates the preservation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace.
In addition, according to Zakharova, Russia also condemns the use of excessive military force by the United States in carrying out anti-drug tasks in the Caribbean.
"Such actions violate both domestic American legislation and international law," the diplomat noted.
Eva Vishnevskaya
