Russia: Arms sales to Venezuela are defensive

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Russia's foreign minister says the country's arms sales to Venezuela are meant for defensive purposes. Russia has stepped up ties with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and is sending a naval squadron to Venezuela for exercises next month in a show of force near the United States. Russia has sold Venezuela weapons worth more than US$4 billion since 2005 and announced a US$1 billion credit for arms purchases last month. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke Tuesday after a meeting in Moscow with Venezuela's foreign minister. Lavrov also told a state-run newspaper that Russia and Venezuela have no plans to attack anybody, suggesting a joint attack on the United States was "unimaginable."