Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is turning to Russia, China, and Iran to strengthen Venezuela’s depleted defense capabilities in response to an increased US military presence in the Caribbean, according to internal US documents reported by The Washington Post.
Maduro is seeking assistance with radar systems, aircraft repairs, and potentially missile supplies. A letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin was delivered during a senior aide’s visit to Moscow earlier this month.
He also sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping requesting “expanded military cooperation” amid rising tensions with the US and urged Beijing to accelerate Chinese firms’ production of radar detection systems to bolster Venezuela’s defenses.