BARVIKHA, Russia (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, visiting Moscow to pursue weapons and energy deals, on Tuesday called for a strategic alliance with Russia to protect his country from the United States.
Venezuela's Chavez calls for alliance with Russia Jul 22 12:35 PM US/Eastern
By MANSUR MIROVALEV
Associated Press WriterChavez has repeatedly accused Washington of plotting an invasion to destabilize his government, despite U.S. denials.
The alliance would mean "we can guarantee Venezuela's sovereignty, which is now threatened by the United States," Chavez told reporters shortly after his arrival in Moscow.
Chavez is in Russia to broker a number of deals involving weapons purchases, oil exploration and possibly the creation of a joint financial institution.
Welcoming Chavez at Meiendorf Castle, his residence outside Moscow, President Dmitry Medvedev said Russian-Venezuelan relations "are one of the key factors of security in the (South American) region."
It is the presidents' first meeting since Medvedev took office in May.
Venezuela's state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA signed separate deals with three Russian energy companies--Gazprom, Lukoil and TNK-BP--during the first day of Chavez's visit.
In addition, Russian media have reported that Chavez is expected to reach a number of agreements for purchasing Russian military hardware while in Moscow, with one paper reporting the deals could be worth up to $2 billion.
In case you are wondering in the last few years Hugo Chavez has ordered the following from Russia....
All these will be needed in case a soccer war breaks out, or if Chavez wants to hit US Central Command in Tampa from Venezuela.
Mr. Chavez has outrun his buffoon quotient
Oh and by the way...
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Epaminondas,
ReplyDeleteAfter Hugo Chavez embraced red fascism, why should we be surprised that he would ally himself with Russia?