The Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Russia and Venezuela entered into force this Wednesday after its promulgation by both presidents, according to the Russian State Legal Information Portal reported today. Both chambers of the Russian parliament urged the international community this week to condemn the 'provocative actions of the United States' against Venezuela. Russian President Vladimir Putin promulgated the law ratifying the agreement on October 27, and his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, did the same on the 7th of the same month. The agreement expands interaction between the two countries in the political and economic spheres, including energy, mining, transport, and communications, as well as in security and the fight against terrorism and extremism. Russia denies request for military aid Although its clauses are unknown, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied on Tuesday reports of Venezuela's request for military aid to Moscow amid escalating tensions with the United States. 'No, we have not received any request,' he said, adding that Russia 'is ready to fully comply with the mutually enshrined obligations in the agreement with our Venezuelan friends.' Meanwhile, the Venezuelan leader stated last week that his country and Russia are 'advancing' in a military cooperation that he described as 'serene and very beneficial' and which —he assured— 'will continue.' When asked about contacts between Caracas and Moscow amid the 'threats' from the United States to the Latin American country, Maduro said that his Government has a 'daily and permanent' communication with the Russian side on 'many issues in development,' including military ones. According to international media, the Maduro Government had requested Russia's help to strengthen the country's air defenses, including 14 missile units, the modernization of several Su-30MK2 aircraft, and radars. Call to condemn US threats The Council of the Federation or the Senate of Russia called today on the parliaments of the world to condemn the threats of the United States to use force against Venezuela and to speak out for the preservation of peace in the region of Latin America and the Caribbean basin. Yesterday, the State Duma or the Chamber of Deputies approved a call for the international community to 'firmly condemn the strengthening of the military presence of the United States' and 'to refrain from escalation and to contribute to the search for solutions to the problems of organized crime and transnational drug trafficking through cooperation and dialogue between countries'.
