Russian deployment in Venezuela includes special forces and ‘cybersecurity personnel’, US official says
- Two Russian air force planes landed outside Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops
- Russia opposes US moves to sanction President Nicolas Maduro and his government
A Russian military contingent that arrived in Venezuela over the weekend, drawing US condemnation, is believed by the US government to be made up of special forces including “cybersecurity personnel”, a US official said.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was still assessing the Russian deployment, which Washington has called a “reckless escalation” of the situation in Venezuela.
Two Russian air force planes landed outside Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops, according to local media reports, two months after the administration of US President Donald Trump disavowed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela’s government has confirmed two planes landed from Russia at the weekend and were authorised by Maduro but has given no more details.
Flight tracking websites said the planes, an Ilyushin IL-62 passenger jet and an Antonov AN-124 military cargo plane, had taken off from Russian military airports.
One of them had flown from Moscow via Syria, where Russia supports President Bashar al-Assad.
The Trump administration has recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate president and demands that Maduro step down.
Russia has described this as a US-backed coup against the socialist government.
The US determination that the Russian contingent includes cybersecurity specialists suggests that part of their mission could be helping Maduro’s loyalists with surveillance as well as protection of the government’s cyber infrastructure.