Armed forces in Venezuela have received a new batch of Russian amphibious combat vehicles, the Moscow-based Center for Analysis of Global Arms Trade said on Thursday.Interesting.
Thirteen BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles were delivered by sea to the port of Puerto Cabello, the center said.
This marks the first report of an arms delivery by sea to Venezuela since the death of President Hugo Chavez in March.
Venezuela ordered a total of 123 BMP-3 vehicles in 2009, with the first delivery made in 2011, the center said. It is unknown how many vehicles have been delivered so far.
A Russian arms trade source said earlier this month Moscow will continue military-technical cooperation with Venezuela regardless of who takes over power after Chavez.
The official said some contracts with Caracas included deals for the construction of arms factories and servicing centers for military equipment.
Between 2005 and 2007, Venezuela inked deals to buy $4 billion worth of weaponry from Russia. The arms involved included Sukhoi fighter jets, combat helicopters, and over 100,000 light weapons -- primarily AK-103 assault rifles.
Caracas also secured a license to produce the assault rifles in Venezuela.
Chavez's government also secured a $2.2 billion loan in 2010 to purchase a large batch of Russian weapons, including 92 T-72M1M main battle tanks, BTR-80 armored personnel carriers, and a variety of artillery systems.
According to Russian experts, Venezuela is expected to become the world’s second largest buyer of Russian weaponry after India by 2015.
Of all the potential hot spots on this planet, the one that causes me more confusion is S. America.
Almost every nation in that hemisphere seems to be arming to the teeth and I don't see the underlying threat to explain it. It goes beyond what is needed or even desired for internal security or action against insurgents. Still, they're up gunning and it appears to be going unnoticed by many.
Keeping up with the Joneses.
ReplyDeleteVenezuela has two adversaries: Colombia, if some clash goes beyond control, and USA. After the lessons obtained in Iraq and Afganisthan, they have made the most obvious choice: build a ginormous cache of Small arms. USA cannot be defeated with conventional means (armoured forces plus aviation), but if there are millions of assault rifles in the hands of insurgent forces, an American invasion would be too costly.
ReplyDeleteYep, I said millions: they are going to build an entire factory of AK and ammunition
I hope that they indeed pass 'em about to the populace. Once the population finally figures out how the leftists have totally mismanaged the country, leading to roaring inflation and shortages, a day will come when the populace turns their weapons on their masters.
DeleteFor all the displays of Boliviarian unity they all still hate each other.
ReplyDeleteIts important to track whats delivered rather than whats ordered, and its always entertaining when so called socialist economic powerhouses require loans from the seller....
ReplyDeleteRussias second largest buyer requires Russian loans to buy the kit, that doesnt exactly demonstrate a lot of faith in the effectiveness of the kit does it.....
The Chavistas arent gearing up for a war with the US, they are gearing up for war on the Venezuelan people.
O regime bolivariano é composto de assassinos, comunistas malditos...
ReplyDelete