| About the same time US president Barack Obama | | | | facilities is of particular strategic significance for |
| was boasting about the new nuclear arms reduction | | | | Venezuela, as this will end its dependence on |
| deal he negotiated with Russia, Russian prime minister | | | | American refineries. Another deal struck during the |
| Vladimir Putin was busy visiting Caracas, negotiating a | | | | meeting was one with far more reaching |
| series of agreements that will reshape the geopolitical | | | | consequences in terms of future US-Venezuela policy: |
| landscape in the Americas. Upon his return to Moscow, | | | | Russian cooperation to build Venezuela's first nuclear |
| Putin announced that he and Venezuelan president | | | | power plant. Could "Iran West" be far off? |
| Hugo Chavez had an agreement for the sale of over | | | | Bolivian president Evo Morales, a staunch Chavez |
| five billion dollars in armament to the South American | | | | supporter, was also present at the summit and sealed |
| country. This exceeds the 4.4 billion dollars in Russian | | | | an agreement that will allow Moscow to build an air |
| military hardware Venezuela has acquired since 2005. | | | | base in Bolivia, described as a refueling stop for |
| The new arms deal provides Venezuela with a credit | | | | Russian military aircraft. Morales also signed deals for |
| line in excess of two billion dollars. | | | | co-development of gas fields in his country. Putin has |
| The rapid arms build-up started by the leftist leader | | | | long been seeking to restore the global clout Russia |
| has many foreign observers preoccupied, as | | | | enjoyed as the USSR, as well as undermining |
| Venezuela isn't in any danger of being aggressed by | | | | American global influence. In Chavez and his allies, Putin |
| any other country, despite Chavez' wild claims of a | | | | has found willing partners and has handed the United |
| Colombian-American conspiracy. Acquiring such an | | | | States a serious political blow in its own hemisphere. |
| arsenal could be a sign that Chavez plans to use it for | | | | For Chavez, the protection afforded by a Russian |
| offensive purposes at some future date, most | | | | alliance will give him more maneuvering room in his |
| probably against neighboring Colombia, a country for | | | | own plans for regional dominance. Never shying away |
| which Venezuela as well as allies Ecuador and | | | | from an opportunity to peddle Russian influence, Putin |
| Nicaragua had secretly drafted an invasion plan in the | | | | is also reaching out to Venezuela's enemy and the US' |
| recent past. Such a scenario is made more plausible | | | | most important South American ally, Colombia, offering |
| by the current perception that Colombia's ally, the | | | | aid against terrorism and perhaps other incentives, |
| United States, has lost interest in the region under | | | | which he'll discuss with outgoing president Alvaro Uribe |
| president Obama, and would shy away from | | | | during his upcoming visit to Moscow. Could Colombia |
| intervening militarily in any conflict. It's conceivable that | | | | pact something with Russia as insurance against |
| Venezuela, the world's fifth largest oil exporter, may | | | | Venezuela, perhaps also motivated by Washington's |
| seek to gain a direct access to the Pacific Ocean and | | | | waning interest in its key ally since George W Bush |
| the lucrative Chinese market, something that would | | | | left? Lest we forget, Colombians are still waiting for |
| become a reality if it controlled Colombia. | | | | passage of the long promised free trade agreement, |
| Venezuela's new arms purchase include submarines, | | | | and Plan Colombian, Washington's anti-drug war |
| tanks, combat helicopters, troop transport aircraft, and | | | | funding, saw cuts last year. |
| long range mobile artillery. Another 30 bilateral accords | | | | Washington's response to recent events has been |
| were signed during the Putin-Chavez meeting, including | | | | muted. If it can't see beyond its own domestic |
| one that paves the way for Russian firms to build oil | | | | problems, the US could well be witnessing the |
| refineries in Venezuela, as well as develop the | | | | beginning of a new cold war, born right in its own |
| enormous Hunin-6 oil field. Acquiring its own refining | | | | backyard! |