Russia sends troops to Venezuela in message to Trump administration

The Russian Defense Ministry send An-124 military transport aircraft, IL-62M jet airliner and more than 100 troops to Caracas, against the backdrop of growing tensions between Venezuela and the U.S.

Some source claims that Chief of the General Staff of the Ground Forces Col. Gen. Vasily Tonkoshkurov have arrived with troops.

According to media reports in recent days, General Vasily Tonkoshkurov, arrived in the capital of Venezuela with almost 100 troops. In addition, An-124 brought 35 tonnes of equipment. What arrived in containers is still unknown.

Vz.ru reported that the cargo plane arrived in Venezuela from Moscow through Syria.

According to farnce24, battered by economic collapse, Venezuela descended into a major political crisis when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president in January and asserted that Maduro was no longer the country’s legitimate leader.

Maduro’s government, which retains the backing of Russia and China, drew widespread international condemnation after he was re-elected last year in a vote widely regarded as fraudulent.

The United States is leading a push for recognition of Guaido, who heads the National Assembly. He is now backed by more than 50 countries.

Meanwhile, Maduro enjoys strong support from Russia, which is eager to challenge US interventionism, as well as China, which is concerned over the fate of billions of dollars Beijing has lent to Caracas.

The emergence of a large number of the Russian military is the desire of Moscow to show their determination to Trump administration. Moreover, some sources say that a new Russian military base may appear in Venezuela in the near future.

(Corrects headline to read administration, not administarion.)