Chavez gets $1 billion Russian arms loan

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez continued his efforts to strengthen his military during his Russian visit by negotiating a $1 billion loan to purchase military hardware from Moscow.

No specifics were mentioned but Venezuela is known to have an interest in purchasing advanced Su-30 fighter aircraft from Russia.

BBC News

Russia to loan Chavez $1 billion for arms United Press International - 56 minutes ago MOSCOW, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Russia will loan Venezuela $1 billion for weapons purchases and military development, a Russian official said Friday. Video: Chavez wants stronger arms trade with Russia RussiaToday Russian Moves Show Military Ambitions New York Times

Russia sending naval for maneuvers with Venezuela

The Peter the Great nuclear cruiser along with three other warships from the Russian Norther Fleet base of Severomorsk are headed to the Gulf of Mexico for war games with Venezuela, Moscow announced today.

The deployment is the largest in the Americas since the Cold War.

Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez has sealed major arms deals with Moscow, and negotiation are underway for a $6.5 billion oil refinery in the country that could help Caracas break its dependence on U.S. refineries.

In related news, China has agreed to build a refinery in China to refine oil from Venezuela, and to invest in a company that will build a refinery in the Orinoco region of Venezuela. Caracas has also signed a deal to buy 24 K-8 fighter training aircraft from Beijing.

BBC News

4 Russian Warships Sail to Venezuela
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By MICHAEL SCHWIRTZ MOSCOW -- A squadron from the Russian Navy’s North Sea Fleet sail for Venezuela on Monday, a Russian Navy spokesman said, ...
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Russian navy sails to Venezuela BBC News
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Russia's cruiser Pyotr Veliky -- the flagship of the Nothern Fleet -- is moored at Severomorsk in 2007. A fleet of Russian warships set off from their Arctic base headed for Venezuela for exercises unprecedented since the Cold War and seen as a rebuff to the United States. Photo:Alexander Nemenov/AFP







AFP

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