US concerned over Putin visit to Venezuela

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122213§ionid=351020704


On the eve of the Russian prime minister's visit to Venezuela, the US has preemptively blasted any prospective arms deals between the two sovereign states.

Vladimir Putin is due to arrive in Caracas on Friday for extensive trade and political talks with left-wing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Russian media earlier reported that among other topics, discussions will focus on a reputed $2.2 billion loan from Moscow to Caracas for the purchase of Russian arms.

Venezuela is said to be interested in purchasing a range of Russian weapons, including 92 T-72 main battle tanks and an unspecified number of Smerch multiple rocket launchers, reported Russia's RIA Novosti news agency.

The prospect of such trade in Venezuela, which the US considers its “backyard”, under the “Monroe Doctrine”, has raised heckles in the US.

Speaking earlier today, Acting Deputy Spokesman for the US Department of State Mark Toner said, "I think we've voiced our concerns … about Venezuela's need for these kinds of defense systems."

"Beyond that, Venezuela, Bolivia, any country, is entitled to pursue its own bilateral relationship with any other country, clearly," he continued.

Since 2005, Venezuela has bought $4 billion worth of Russian defense equipment, including warplanes, Kalashnikov rifles and 36 Mi-17 Hip helicopters. During his visit, Putin will oversee the handover of the final four of these helicopters.

With some 30 percent of the total international arms sales, the US remains by far the biggest exporter of weapons in the world, according to a 2010 report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.\

Russia agrees to supply Mi-24 helicopters to Lebanon

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119618§ionid=351020203


Russian authorities have agreed to supply 10 Mi-24 advanced military helicopters to Lebanon instead of 10 MiG-29 fighter jets they had previously pledged to provide.

According to a report published by al-Nahar news website, the decision was taken after Lebanese President Michel Sleiman asked to receive the state of the art military choppers and the advanced missiles they carry in place of the Russian-made warplanes.

President Michel Sleiman returned Friday afternoon to Beirut concluding a 2-day official visit to Moscow, the first ever visit by a Lebanese head of state to Russia.

On Thursday, Sleiman met with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev and the two signed a memorandum on military cooperation.

The Russian move is seen as a slap to the United States over its longstanding military relationship with Lebanon. American officials had occasionally intervened in the past when other countries offered to supply weapons.

Lebanon's air force consists of only a few 1950s-era jets and a small number of Vietnam War-era helicopters. The MiG-29, often compared to the American F-16 fighter, is vastly more powerful than anything Washington was considering providing to Lebanon. The most recent Pentagon offer, in terms of air power, is a Cessna Caravan, a single-engine prop plane.