Russia, Venezuela seek closer defense and trade cooperation

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Source: CCTV.com | 07-23-2008 09:04

Russia and Venezuela are looking at developing closer defense and trade cooperation. This comes after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putins' talks with visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Leading oil and gas producers Russia and Venezuela will coordinate energy policies, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev(R) has said after meeting his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez(L).(AFP)

Chavez arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for strategic talks on political, economic and defense cooperation.

Venezuela has bought over 50 combat helicopters and other weapons from Russia. Moscow plans to start supplying Venezuela with at least ten Mi-28N helicopters in the second half of 2009.

Venezuela's state-run oil company also signed deals with three Russian energy companies on Tuesday.

Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian President, announced, "We have very serious mutual potential in the energy sector. Our states are major exporters of hydrocarbons and the documents which have just been signed here between Gazprom, Lukoil, TNK-BP and the Venezuelan corporation PDVSA should serve as the basis for serious investment and the development of cooperation in all spheres."

Analysts say Russian-Venezuelan relations is a key factor for security in the South American region.

Viktor Linnik, a political analyst, said, "You know very well that the United States is very active in the territories of the former Soviet Union, in some of the territories particularly like Georgia and Ukraine, so it's only natural that Russia will reciprocate and be more active in Latin America."

Chavez also met with Russian military and business leaders.

Trade between Venezuela and Russia reached 1.1 billion US dollars last year.

Editor:Zhang Yue