The United States was so concerned about Russia’s decision to supply anti-aircraft missiles to Venezuela in 2009 that it tried to scupper the deal, according to American diplomatic cables revealed on WikiLeaks.
The cables, first reported by the Spanish newspaper El Pais, detail the concern of the US government that the Russian shoulder-held SA-24 anti-aircraft missile, which can down jets at 19,000 feet, could end up in the hands of Marxist guerrillas in Colombia or even Mexican drug cartels. Also of concern to Washington was Venezuela’s acquisition from Russia of attack and transport helicopters, fighter jets and Kalashnikov assault rifles.
According to the cables, Russian arms sales to Venezuela in 2009 amounted to more than $5 billion. It was said that the sales were “growing”.
Since 2006, when the US placed an arms embargo on Venezuela, the country, under the leadership of its socialist leader Hugo Chávez, has placed itself, along with other countries in the region such as Nicaragua, in Russia’s orbit.
The increasingly close relations between Caracas and Moscow is a major worry for Washington which believes that leaders such as President Chávez have opened the door for Russia to play a renewed role in the politics of Latin America.
It was announced last month by the Venezuelan leader that Russia had loaned his country $4 billion to purchase Russian military hardware. Mr Chávez argued that Venezuela requires military assistance from Moscow to defend itself from the aggression of the US and its allies in the region.
