Russia is prepared to enhance defense industry collaboration with Venezuela and address the needs of the country's Armed Forces, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Venezuela's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil, welcomed Russia's Deputy Prime Minister, who is in Caracas for a working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations.

During a meeting of the Russian-Venezuelan High-Level Commission in an expanded format, Chernyshenko said "We reaffirm our readiness to develop strategic partnership in the military-technical sphere and fully meet the needs of the Venezuelan Armed Forces for joint weapons and Russian-made military equipment to ensure the country's security."

He stated that Russia highly values the progress in bilateral relations. "Russia and Venezuela remain strategic partners for each other," Chernyshenko said.

Last month, Putin said on October 31 that relations between Russia and Venezuela are improving.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, during a meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on the margins of the BRICS conference, that "Venezuela is one of Russia's historical reliable partners in Latin America and the world as a whole. The relations of strategic partnership between our countries continue to strengthen."

Russia and Venezuela are working to create a new international order free of neocolonial methods, according to Putin, who also stated that Venezuela supports Russia in the midst of a hybrid war fought against it. The Russian leader also expressed support for Venezuela's bid to join BRICS. Maduro described the meeting with Russia's president as "extraordinary," claiming that they discussed a path for bilateral cooperation.

Maduro told Russian media that in addition to friendship, there is "strong cooperation" between both countries, describing how both are committed to the concept of a new multipolar world. Maduro said he complimented the Russian president for holding a "historic" BRICS conference, describing the group as "an epicenter of changes, which will lead to a new world order."