Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has appealed to Russian leader Vladimir Putin for military assistance as tensions rise with the US, The Washington Post reported, citing internal US government documents.
According to the files, Maduro requested Russia’s help to repair and upgrade military aircraft, overhaul defensive radar systems, and possibly supply missiles.
Venezuela has also approached China and Iran to request additional assistance.
A letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly called for “expanded military cooperation” to counter US pressure, urging Chinese firms to accelerate production of radar detection systems for use in Venezuela.
Caracas also coordinated with Iran on a planned shipment of military equipment and discussed the purchase of GPS jammers and drones with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).
While Beijing and Tehran’s responses remain unknown, a Russian Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane sanctioned by the US in 2023 recently landed in Caracas after taking a route over Africa to avoid Western airspace, according to The Washington Post, citing flight data from Flightradar24.
Rising Tensions in the Caribbean
Maduro’s appeal for defense support comes amid a sharp rise in US military activity around Venezuela.
In recent months, Washington has expanded its naval presence in the Caribbean, carrying out over a dozen strikes on alleged drug traffickers departing from Venezuelan shores, which have killed at least 61 people since September.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has not provided evidence that the vessels were involved in trafficking, while Maduro has rejected the allegations.
As part of the buildup, the US carried out flights near Venezuelan airspace using B-1B and B-52 bombers.
It also deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group to Latin America and stationed 10 F-35 stealth fighters in Puerto Rico.
