'Undiplomatic': Russia Rejects US Reaction to Military Cooperation with Venezuela

Russia sent military airplanes to Venezuela to show its willingness to defend the country against a “foreign military intervention.”

Venezuela, Russia Begin Defense Training Exercises

The deployment did not go unnoticed by the White House as Mike Pompeo, U.S. secretary of state took a jab at both nations labeling them “corrupt” and accused them of allegedly making their people “suffer.”

The Kremlin responded to what it believes are “inappropriate” and “non-diplomatic” comments by Pompeo.

The U.S. secretary of state’s comments were issued in the framework of a Russia-Venezuela joint cooperation which does not accommodate U.S. interests, and which were not made in consultation with the North American Nation, and puts its hegemony over the region in suspense.

“Two TU-160 bombers, an An-124 heavy military transport plane and an II-62 long-haul plane of the Russian aerospace forces that took off from aerodromes in Russia have landed at the Maiquet at ‘Simon Bolivar’ International Airport of the Venezuelan capital city,” according to Russia’s defense ministry.

The Russian servicemen were met by the honor guard of Venezuela’s air force. They discussed “combined operational flights.”

“We are getting prepared to defend Venezuela if it is needed,” and “we will do it with our friends who advocate respect-based relations between states,” stated Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, after the landing.

The operational flights to be held between both nations are considered to be a “demonstration of strength,” by Venezuela’s defense ministry.

“Military-technical cooperation is one of many areas of our cooperation. Over the past years it has been developing very fruitful,” stated Vladimir Zaemsky, Russia’s ambassador to Venezuela, Tuesday.

The deployment of the Russian warplanes follows Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s visit to Russia last week.

A new Russia-Venezuela meeting is being prepared to discuss new joint projects, “These projects will provide great assistance in developing mutually beneficial relations between Russia and Venezuela,” stated Zaemsky.

The TU-160 bomber is the largest supersonic (Mach 2+) combat aircraft in the world and it was designed by the Soviet Union. The vessel is capable of carrying nuclear as well as conventional missiles. The bomber is considered to be “long-range” as it can cover distances of more than 12,000 km without having to refuel.

Source URL: TeleSUR English