Russia May Increase Its Military Presence in Venezuela
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org – Home – Stephen Lendman)
Tass and AP News reported the same story, picked up by the neocon/CIA house organ Washington Post, the Miami Herald, and other Western media.
At a Monday news conference in Moscow, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said Caracas intends to work cooperatively with Russia, China, and other allies to overcome the Trump regime’s war by other means.
Iran is helping Maduro’s government, enduring unlawful US sanctions for 40 years, Arreaza saying the Islamic Republic has vital experience in dealing with hostile US actions.
“We have a lot to learn from Iran. We have Iranian consultants in the Venezuelan government that help us survive the blockade and boost production,” Arreaza explained.
His remarks indicated a greater Russian military presence in Venezuela perhaps is coming, saying the following:
“We need to provide for equipment maintenance and exchange military and technical information,” adding:
“This work has been going on since 2001 when we signed an agreement on military cooperation (with Russia). Currently, a commission of specialists is present on the territory of Venezuela and, no doubt, it may be expanded.”
“We will be ready for any scenario, but we put the emphasis on diplomacy first thing.”
“We are for peace and we wish to talk to everybody about peace, but if the United States prefers a military path, we have our armed forces, our people’s militia, and the people, and we will be prepared not only to resist and fight back, but to overpower and destroy any army, however strong it might be.”
Russia is involved in protecting and preserving Venezuela’s sovereign independence. Arreaza stressed that his country is undergoing a “historic struggle for control over our country’s wealth, control over incomes from the oil industry, for potential incomes from natural resources and energy resources” — what the US aims to steal, wanting Venezuela colonized and controlled.
The struggle for Bolivarian sovereign independence has been ongoing for over 20 years, events since January the most serious threat in its history — a struggle for freedom over US fascist control.
Sergey Lavrov warned of serious consequences if Trump regime hardliners push things too far. “We condemn this campaign for violating the principles of international law,” he said.
Urging the US to back off from its regime change plans fell on deaf ears in Washington. Lavrov’s Monday discussion with Pompeo in Finland on Venezuela achieved nothing.
Separately he stressed that Russia intends to strengthen its “strategic partnership” with the Bolivarian Republic.
A key way is by actions similar to Moscow’s involvement in Syria to combat US-supported terrorists at the behest of Damascus.
Caracas would welcome similar support, a strong Russian military presence in Venezuela, a deterrent against US aggression.
The only way to deal with Washington is through strength. Nothing else can work. Diplomatic outreach achieves nothing — a nation bent on global conquest and dominance by brute force if other tactics fail.
The only way to deal with its authorities is by giving them a taste of their own medicine, the only language they understand.
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