Venezuela and Russia Sign Defense, Energy Deals

Venezuela and Russia deepened their strategic partnership on Thursday with the signing of new agreements focused on defense and energy cooperation during a visit by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko to Caracas. The deals encompass intelligence-sharing, counter-espionage, and advanced military support, alongside collaboration in the energy sector, particularly petroleum exploration.

Chernyshenko assured Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez that Russia was prepared to provide Venezuela with "the most sophisticated weapons and military equipment" to bolster its armed forces, according to remarks translated by Venezuelan state TV. The two countries also agreed to joint efforts in areas like drone technology and the development of petroleum resources.

Russia has long been one of the few international supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who faces widespread accusations of electoral fraud following his contested re-election in July. The United States and several Latin American countries have recognized opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia as the rightful winner, citing detailed reports from opposition sources, while Venezuelan authorities aligned with Maduro have not yet released a full vote breakdown.

The ties between Venezuela and Russia were cemented under former President Hugo Chávez, who aligned the country with Moscow in opposition to U.S. influence. Since Chávez’s death in 2013, his successor, Maduro, has continued to nurture the relationship, notably defending Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Venezuela remains a key partner for Russia, particularly in energy, with the country holding the world's largest proven oil reserves. However, years of economic mismanagement, coupled with international sanctions, have caused the nation’s oil production to plummet from over 3 million barrels per day to around 1 million barrels today, further deepening its reliance on foreign support.