In Contrast to US's Dreadful Image in Latin America, Moscow Enjoys Good Relationship With Countries of the Region.

 

March 31, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin is to make his first to visit to Venezuela tomorrow that would cement a growing relationship between the two countries.

 

Putin will also meet Bolivia’s President Evo Morales as the guest of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during his trip to Caracas. Russia, Venezuela and Bolivia plan on expanding their commercial ties.  

 

A Russian government official said that priority will be given to the fuel, energy, and mining sectors but other areas of interest could include oil, gas, and transport infrastructures, agriculture, and the financial sphere.

 

The Russian President’s trip to Venezuela could raise alarms in Washington where the Obama administration considers the oil rich Venezuela as one big challenge against US and Western European interests in Latin America.

 

Russia is Venezuela’s main arms supplier and Putin's visit will facilitate greater military and economic cooperation that include a 2 billion euro arms deal with Caracas. Moscow has already delivered 34 powerful Mi-17 Hip helicopters to Venezuela. Caracas plans to buy 92 T-72 tanks, and other advanced weaponry.

 

Earlier this month US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton boasted America’s growing influence in Latin America saying that Washington enemies were losing force in the region. United States views independent governments in Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, Brazil, Nicaragua and other Latin states as major hurdles to its own interests in the region.

 

On the other hand Moscow has had very good relationship with Latin America for many years. Fyodor Lukyanov, a specialist in global affairs said, ‘It is always a good chance for Putin to show to the United States that we have a lot a friends all over the world. We should expect a lot of big arms and energy contracts. When Putin has traveled recently to centers like India he brought back a lot.’

 

Oil rich Venezuela is also seeking Russian and Iranian assistance in the field of nuclear technology for electricity generation.