Venezuela would like to purchase more military equipment and weapons from Russia and China

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Defence & Security News - Venezuela
 
Venezuela would like to purchase more military equipment and weapons from Russia and China.
Venezuela has announced plans to increase its total amount of arms imports from Russia and China in the coming years. Venezuela is the largest weapons importer in Latin America, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Since 2011, the country spent some $2.6 on weapons, buying the majority of them in Russia.
     
Venezuela has announced plans to increase its total amount of arms imports from Russia and China in the coming years. Venezuela is the largest weapons importer in Latin America, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Since 2011, the country spent some $2.6 on weapons, buying the majority of them in Russia. Russian-made T-72B1 main battle tank at military parade of the Venezuelan army.
     
Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro plans to buy more weapons produced in Russia and China, saying the nation should step up its defense against foreign threats.

"We are a people of peace; we want neither violence nor war," Maduro said, adding that the army, police and the people of Venezuela have to stay alert.

In the period from 2012 to 2015 Venezuela is expected to become the second-largest importer of Russian weapons, with sales reaching up to $3.2 billion, Igor Korotchenko, head of the Centre for Analysis of World Arms Trade, told RIA Novosti.

Venezuela and Russia's state-run arms trader Rosobornexport signed more than 30 contracts on arms supplies in 2005-2009. Venezuela received Russian air defense systems (Antey-2500, Pechora-2M, Buk and Igla) as well as T-72B1 tanks, Grad and Smerch multiple rocket launcher systems, armored vehicles and artillery.

From 2011 to 2014, Venezuela has purchased lot of military equipment from China, as 8 Y-8 transport aircraft, 8 AS565S Panther helicopter, 18 SM-4 81mm mortar carrier, 18 SR-5 Multiple Launch Rocket System, 40 Type 07P/VN1 armoured infantry fighting vehicle, 121 VN4 4x4 armoured personnel carrier, 25 ZBD-05/VN-18 armoured infantry fighting vehicle and 25 ZTD-05/VN-16 light tank.