Maduro Seeks Military Aid From Russia, China, Iran

Facing a U.S. naval buildup in the Caribbean and pressure over alleged drug trafficking and disputed elections, President Nicolás Maduro urgently appealed to Russia, China and Iran for military aid. Leaked letters and documents reportedly ask for missiles, radar upgrades, repairs and financing for Sukhoi jets via Rostec, expanded Chinese military cooperation, and Iranian drones with roughly 1,000 km range plus GPS jammers and detection gear. Russia has ratified a 10‑year Strategic Partnership Treaty with Venezuela and Moscow’s foreign ministry has publicly said it stands ready to respond to Caracas’s requests. The ties build on billions in Russian loans and Rosneft investment linked to Venezuela’s roughly 300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, even as U.S. sanctions and economic collapse have reduced oil exports and driven mass emigration. These moves heighten a geopolitical standoff in the region, complicating U.S. efforts to interdict narcotics shipments and raising the risk of wider regional escalation.