Media: Maduro approached Russia for military assistance

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has appealed to Russia for supplies of missiles, radars, and modernized aircraft amid the buildup of American forces in the Caribbean region.

As BAKU.WS reports, this is according to The Washington Post, citing confidential documents.

According to the information, the state authorities have also approached China and Iran with requests for military aid and equipment to strengthen their defense. In a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Maduro requested "expanded military cooperation" between the two countries to counter the "escalation of relations between the US and Venezuela."

"Maduro asked the Chinese government to accelerate the production of radar detection systems, presumably so that Venezuela could expand its capabilities," the article states.

Contact with the Iranian side is maintained by the head of Venezuela's Ministry of Transport, Ramon Celestino Velasquez, who recently coordinated deliveries of military equipment and UAVs and planned to personally visit Iran.

"Caracas needs 'detection equipment,' GPS scramblers, and 'almost certainly drones with a range of 1000 km,'" WP quotes the Venezuelan minister's words addressed to an unnamed Iranian official.