Russia and Venezuela in Oil Talks

July 22, 2008 2:16 pm Matty Environment, In the News, Politics

President Chavez of Venezuela & President Medvedev of Russia Discuss Oil
In a Moscow meeting between President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia and President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela this week, news broke that the two oil-rich nations would be working together more closely than ever before. Their new partnership would involve coordinated action that would potentially impact global gas and oil markets, and would include foreign policy considerations as well.

During these talks, there has also been the undercurrent of news that Chavez is expected to purchase more than one billion dollars in Russian arms. Aside from this, the two leaders discussed a strategic partnership to counter American strength in the global oil market in general, and in the region with Venezuela, specifically.

President Chávez and President Medvedev Stress Different Aspects

Chavez was quoted by the Russian news agency RIA-Novosti as saying, “That will guarantee the sovereignty of Venezuela, which the United States is now threatening.” This meeting represents Medvedev’s first meeting with Chavez, since taking over after Putin as president of Russia. Russian officials instead chose to emphasize the business aspects of the new partnership. Further, Medvedev stressed the importance of all nations relying on the U.N. to settle international disputes in the future.

Medvedev was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying, “We think that it is our common task to achieve a more democratic, just and secure world. We are ready to work on this, together with the Venezuelan president.”

Pool photo Copyright by Alexander Nemenov