In a Blow to Maduro, Russia Withdraws Key Defense Support to Venezuela
Source: WSJ
MOSCOWRussia has withdrawn key defense advisers from Venezuela, an embarrassment for President Nicolás Maduro as Moscow weighs the leaders political and economic resilience against growing U.S. pressure.
Russian state defense contractor Rostec, which has trained Venezuelan troops and advised on securing arms contracts, has cut its staff in Venezuela to just a few dozen from about 1,000 at the height of cooperation between Moscow and Caracas several years ago, said a person close to the Russian defense ministry.
The gradual pullout, which has escalated over the lpast several months, according to people familiar with the situation, is due to a lack of new contracts and the acceptance that Mr. Maduros regime no longer has the cash to continue to pay for other Rostec services associated with past contracts.
Russia has been among Mr. Maduros biggest international supporters, but the winding down of Rostecs presence shows the limits of Russias reach in the South American country at a time when Moscow is facing economic difficultiesin part due to the impact of U.S. sanctionsat home. Venezuela has been one of Moscows largest customers in South America.
Read more: https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-a-blow-to-maduro-russia-withdraws-key-defense-support-to-venezuela-11559486826
The fat, murdering criminal just lost another chip.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,988 posts)ripcord
(5,320 posts)That leaves Cuba, they contract out doctors, nurses, engineers and of course the "advisers" who keep an eye on the senior military and finally Maduro's bodyguards, but when the money is gone they will bail too. Maduro says he is doing this for the people but the people don't seem to be benefiting, I'm sure as they are starving they are just thrilled to see Muduro's fat, well fed ass on TV telling them all the wonderful things he is doing for them.