Venezuela Chaos Tests Ties Between Putin And Maduro

And Venezuela has strategic value for Russia as well: Putin's support for Maduro gives Russia a foothold in Latin America, relatively close to the U.S. Russia flexed this leverage last December when it briefly sent two advanced bombers capable of carrying nukes to military bases in Caracas. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned Russia that supporting Maduro's claim to power "risks prolonging the suffering of the Venezuelan people," while Russia has accused the U.S. of trying to support a coup against Maduro. More…