Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister called for deepening Moscow-Caracas relations

According to an IRNA report from Reuters on Thursday, Borisov also met with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and discussed serious military cooperation between the two countries. “We will increase all cooperation and training programs,” Maduro said in a televised speech after the meeting, stressing Caracas’ support for Moscow’s stance in the face of NATO threats.

In a meeting with Venezuela’s oil minister, Borisov called the country a strategic ally of Russia in Latin America and said Moscow “attaches importance to the character of allies in international coordination and dialogue at the political level.”

After Venezuela, he is scheduled to travel to Nicaragua and Cuba.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to Venezuela follows a visit by Latin American presidents including Argentine President Alberto Fernandez and Brazilian President Jayer Bolsonaro to Moscow, where they met with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid tensions over Ukraine.