Russia and Venezuela are looking at developing closer defense and trade cooperation

Russia and Venezuela are looking at developing closer defense and trade cooperation. This comes after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putins' talks with visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Chavez arrived in Moscow on Tuesday for strategic talks on political, economic and defense cooperation. Venezuela has bought over 50 combat helicopters and other weapons from Russia. Moscow plans to start supplying Venezuela with at least ten Mi-28N helicopters in the second half of 2009. Venezuela's state-run oil company also signed deals with three Russian energy companies on Tuesday. Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian President, announced, 'We have very serious mutual potential in the energy sector. Our states are major exporters of hydrocarbons and the documents which have just been signed here between Gazprom, Lukoil, TNK-BP and the Venezuelan corporation PDVSA should serve as the basis for serious investment and the development of cooperation in all spheres.'