Behind the Scenes of Russia’s Military Detachment to Venezuela

The appearance of Russian military specialists in Venezuela sparked an intense debate within Russia’s expert community. One analyst, Alexander Sharkovsky, reasonably asks, “If [Russia is simply engaging in] military-technical cooperation, why were military personnel sent instead of representatives of the defense-industrial complex?” Sharkovsky’s article, in Nezavisimaya Gazeta, suggests that Moscow’s true goal was to land a “reconnaissance group” tasked with “general reconnaissance, planning and comprehensive preparation of the Venezuelan Armed Forces for a potential incursion of US Spetsnaz [Special Forces]” (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, March 25). Whereas, the head of the “WarGonzo” Telegram channel, Semen Pegov, speculates that the arrival of Russian personnel does not portend a military mission. Rather, the real aim is primarily concerned with the Russian government sending a powerful message to President Nicolás Maduro’s opponents that Moscow will not abandon the “legitimate” political regime. Pegov presumes that the cargo delivered to Caracas might include “reconnaissance equipment to be delivered to the Venezuelan-Columbian border, which will help to monitor the situation” (Kaktus2.mirtesen.ru, March 27). More…