Two Russian air force planes arrived in Venezuela over the weekend, carrying about 100 troops and nearly 40 tons of cargo.
The aircraft, a military cargo plane and a passenger jet that also ferried a top Russian defense official, took off from a military airport in Russia and stopped in Syria on their way to Venezuela, according to the tracker Flighttradar24, Reuters reports.
The planes landed in the South American country’s main airport as dictator and Russian client Nicolas Maduro struggles to maintain power. Food shortages and energy blackouts have led to mass emigration and widespread protests in favor of opposition leader Juan Guaido, who is recognized as interim president by the United States and dozens of other Western nations. Russia, China, and Iran remain on the side of Maduro, who has blocked U.S.-led humanitarian aid from entering the country.
The weekend shipment of troops and materiel follows joint Russian-Venezuelan military exercises held three months ago, with Maduro trumpeting the strengthening relations between Caracas and Moscow. The two strategic bomber planes Russia sent to Caracas in December are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Russian state news agency Sputnik said the officials on the weekend flights were traveling to Venezuela to “exchange consultations.”
“Russia has various contracts that are in the process of being fulfilled, contracts of a technical military character,” a Russian embassy source told Sputnik.
