Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov today denied international media reports that Venezuela had requested military assistance from Moscow amid escalating tensions with the United States. "No, we have not received any requests," the head of Russian diplomacy said at a press conference. Lavrov recalled that last May, Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Venezuela that is in the "final stage of ratification" and has not yet entered into force. "Russia is ready to fully fulfill the mutually enshrined obligations under the agreement with our Venezuelan friends," he assured. The head of Russian diplomacy predicted that Washington's current policy towards Caracas "will not bring anything good" and will not increase the prestige of the United States on the international stage. Washington's Warnings Last Friday, Russia again warned against any military aggression against Venezuela following Washington's threats to the Latin American country. "A direct aggression will aggravate the situation rather than resolve the problems that have every potential to be resolved legally and diplomatically within the legal framework," said the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova. Previously, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov noted that Russia and Venezuela are keeping all channels of communication open amid the escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas. Ryabkov emphasized that the "unjustified deployment" of U.S. forces in the Caribbean is generating "great tensions," and the responsibility for this lies solely with Washington. Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro stated a week ago that his country and Russia are "advancing" in military cooperation that he described as "serene and very beneficial" and that "will continue." "Daily and permanent communication" When asked about contacts between Caracas and Moscow amid the "threats" from the United States to the Latin American country, Maduro said that his Government has a "daily and permanent communication" with that of Vladimir Putin on "many ongoing issues," including military ones. According to international media, the Maduro government had requested Russia's help to strengthen the country's air defenses, including 14 missile systems, the restoration of several Su-30MK2 aircraft, and radars. This Tuesday, the Venezuelan government announced a new military deployment to face what it considers "imperialist threats," referring to the United States, which is conducting a naval and air operation in the Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking. Caracas has denounced the presence of U.S. military as a plan to foment a "regime change" and impose a "puppet" authority with which the United States can "seize" Venezuela's natural resources, mainly oil.
