Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev, left, shakes hands with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez as they pose for pictures during a welcoming ceremony at the Miraflores palace in Caracas, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008. Medvedev is on a two-day official visit to Venezuela. APFrom ABC News:
ST.PETERSBURG (Reuters) - Russia and Venezuela on Saturday moved closer to an oil venture deal and discussed arms trade, forging a partnership that may drag Russia into a row over the U.S. military presence in Colombia.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, due in Russia in September, said last week he was prepared to buy dozens of Russian tanks to counter the U.S. intention to increase a military presence in Colombia.
"The president of Venezuela is one of the leading international policy makers. He is a very strong personality and a big friend of Russia," said Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin.
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My Comment: The tanks will be more for keeping the Venezuelan population under control than for what the Colombians and Americans may do next door.