Two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic long-range heavy supersonic bomber aircrafts land at Maiquetia International Airport, just north of Caracas, on December 10, 2018. AFP / Federico PARRA
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo criticized the Russian government for sending "bombers halfway around the world” to Venezuela.
"The Russian and Venezuelan people should see this for what it is: two corrupt governments squandering public funds, and squelching liberty and freedom while their people suffer,” Pompeo said on Twitter on Monday night.
A group of Russian military planes crossed the Atlantic Ocean and landed in Venezuela, the Russian state news agency TASS reported earlier, citing a defense ministry statement. According to the ministry, two strategic Tu-160 bombers, a cargo plane An-124 and a long-range Il-62 jet airliner were among aircraft that landed at Maiquetia airport outside Caracas on Monday.
The U.S. and European Union have led an effort to impose sanctions on Venezuela as they seek to isolate the country on the world stage. The U.S. has accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of undermining democratic institutions amid the country’s growing political and economic crisis.
After meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this month, Maduro said he secured support from Russia to increase oil production by 1 million barrels a day, as well as for mining investments and maintenance of weapons and defense systems.
Also read: Russia deploys two bombers to Venezuela for exercises
