Venezuela’s Military Gets 3 Russian Copters
Three Russian-made transport helicopters arrived in Venezuela on Tuesday as part of a broader arms deal between the two nations, Venezuela’s defense minister said. Defense Minister Orlando Maniglia said the three helicopters were the first of 15 to be delivered under two contracts worth a total of $201 million signed last year. Russia and Venezuela also signed a contract in May for 100,000 Russian-made Kalashnikov rifles, a deal that drew criticism from the U.S. government over concerns that the guns could fall into the hands of leftist rebels in neighboring Colombia or other groups. Full Story