Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is set to meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday and Friday in Moscow.
Chavez, who arrives in Russia on Thursday, is expected to discuss with Medvedev and Putin energy and military cooperation, including major projects to produce, refine and export oil.
Chavez has recently announced plans to buy dozens of Russian tanks in response to the U.S. deployment of military bases in neighboring Colombia, aimed at curbing the country”s flourishing drugs trade and the activity of FARC guerillas.
Between 2005 and 2007 Russia signed 12 contracts worth more than $4.4 billion to supply arms to Venezuela, including fighter jets, helicopters and Kalashnikov assault rifles, which raised concerns in Washington.
This is Chavez”s seventh visit to Russia as president. He came to the country twice last year alone. Medvedev visited Venezuela last November, the first visit to the Latin American country by a Russian leader in the more than 150 years they have had diplomatic relations.
