Amid the unprecedented US military buildup in the Caribbean and controversial statements from Donald Trump, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro panicked and secretly sought emergency military support from Russia, China and Iran. About this report The Washington Post referred to internal documents obtained by the US government.
According to the newspaper, Mr. Maduro has prepared a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin asking for help modernizing the Su-20MK2 aircraft, repairing the radar and possibly providing missiles. At the same time, calls were sent to China with a request to “expand military cooperation” and to Iran for the supply of drones and equipment for electronic warfare.
This move by Caracas appears to be a response to a very real threat. Although Trump has publicly denied planning to carry out strikes, data Newsweek, satellite images confirm that the US amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima and the destroyer USS Gravely are only 200 km away from Venezuela's important air base, fully prepared to attack. The total number of US forces in the region exceeds 10,000. It was also reported that the United States had closed its airspace near Puerto Rico.
As The Washington Post notes, Russia remains Maduro's main hope. Recently, a Russian Il-76 transport plane, which is under US sanctions, arrived in Caracas. However, analysts say that Moscow's ability to support may be limited due to the conflict in Ukraine.
