Maduro appealed for support in the supply of military equipment, including radars and missiles, and for help in servicing military aircraft. Requests were sent in the form of letters, including: to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Venezuelan leader also expressed his desire to tighten military cooperation with Beijing, emphasizing the need to accelerate the production of radars by Chinese companies, which would increase the ability to detect threats.
According to the documents, Venezuelan Transport Minister Ramon Celestino Velasquez played a key role in coordinating military shipments from Iran, including drones and electronic equipment. The Washington Post revealed that Velasquez asked Tehran to provide drones with a range of up to 1,000 meters. km, GPS encryptors and passive detection systems. The Venezuelan minister is also planning a visit to the Iranian capital.
In his correspondence with China, Maduro allegedly described American military operations in the region as a threat not only to Venezuela, but also to Beijing, pointing to the ideological connections between the two countries. Venezuela, struggling with an economic and political crisis, perceives the US actions as a direct threat to its sovereignty.
Russia, long a key ally of Venezuela, has also played an important role in Caracas's current actions. Last week, the Venezuelan capital was visited by a Russian Il-76 transport plane, covered by American sanctions. At the same time, Moscow ratified a new treaty on strategic relations with the Maduro government, which strengthens cooperation between the two countries in the face of international tensions.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump denied the Miami Herald's reports that he was planning attacks on Venezuelan military installations. The newspaper had previously reported that the decision on such actions had already been made. Trump emphasized that the only targets of American operations in the region are drug gangs. In recent weeks, US forces have conducted demonstration bomber flights in the Caribbean region and deployed a strike group with the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier.
Read also: Donald Trump commented on reports of a possible attack in Venezuela
Washington accuses Maduro of complicity in drug smuggling, which takes place using boats operating near the Venezuelan coast. In response to these allegations, the United States increased its military presence in the region, further exacerbating tensions between the two countries.
