Venezuela's Chávez Sees An Ally -- Russia Sees More Business

A Russian navy fleet arrived in Venezuela Tuesday ahead of a two-day official visit by President Dymitri Medvedev of Russia that is seen as the latest step in a burgeoning relationship between the two countries.

Venezuelan officials said Medvedev, who arrives mid-afternoon Wednesday, would focus on "strengthening" the "strategic relationship" with Russia in terms of cooperation in the military, economic and financial spheres.

President Chávez primarily sees the relationship with Russia in geopolitical terms, with Moscow acting as a counterweight to what he claims is the undue influence and power of the United States in the region. But diplomatic observers suggest Moscow sees things in a rather different light.

For Moscow, it's said, the relationship is chiefly about "bizniz" – and so far, this emphasis has produced a flock of highly lucrative agreements, above all in supplying weaponry to Venezuela.

Again, this fits in with Chávez' perception of the United States as an overbearing giant. For years, he's repeatedly claimed that senior officials in the Bush Administration were plotting to kill him, overthrow his government, invade Venezuela and take over its oil wealth.

Washington has consistently denied any such notion. But Chávez' bellicose rhetoric is said to have added weight to those in Washington who advise caution in selling weaponry to Venezuela.

The United States used to be Venezuela's chief source of weapons, as is the case in most other countries in the region. Whether or not he was aware of the doubters in Washington, earlier this decade he ended military cooperation with the United States and ordered its officers out of the country.

This in turn led him to turn to Russia for arms which he insists are needed to "modernize" the "Bolivarian National Armed Forces" as the Venezuelan military are now called.

To date, Venezuela has signed a reputed $4.4 billion worth of arms purchase agreements with Russia companies. Purchases include a squadron of jet fighter bombers, military helicopters, naval vessels, radar systems, 100,000 assault rifles and other assorted materiel.

Reports say Medvedev's visit could lead to an order for tanks. In addition, Chavez has said he wants to buy a nuclear reactor from Russia. While he insists this would be for peaceful purposes, skeptics question why he thinks oil-rich Venezuela needs a reactor in the first place.

The Russian fleet is the first to visit the Caribbean since the Cold War, and includes a destroyer and a cruiser so large that it was unable to berth at the port in La Guaira 30 kilometers north of Caracas. Week-long joint maneouvers with Venezuela would include exercises in tactics, air warfare and combating drugs trafficking and terrorism, a senior officer said.