Chavez’ Visit to Russia: Infected by ‘VIRUS’?

Ariel Cohen / October 07, 2010

According to international press reports, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is planning to visit Russia, Belarus, and Iran later next week. In Moscow, he will sign a series of agreements on trade and technology.

The Obama Administration needs to let its Moscow counterparts know that unbridled support of a mercurial Latin American politician, including weapons and dual use technology transfer, may threaten the “reset” policy between U.S. and Russia.

Yet, Moscow has much to gain from its flourishing relationship with Caracas.

First, when the Venezuelan leader last visited Moscow in September 2009, he announced that his country recognized the independence of the former Georgian republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia—a big boon for the Kremlin’s policy re-establishing a “zone of privileged interests” in the “near abroad.” The old Soviet ally Nicaragua and a broke island nation of Nauru were the only other nations to also recognize the two breakaway republics’ respective independence. (more…)