Russian FM announces Latin America tour in April to deepen relations

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Apr 2023 21:04

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says Moscow is prepared to boost cooperation on a multilateral basis with Cuba, Venezuela, Brazil, and Nicaragua.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attends a ceremony to receive credentials from newly appointed foreign ambassadors to Russia, at the Kremlin, in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (AP)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on Thursday that a Russian delegation will visit Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua in the second half of April.

In an article for the Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo and for the Mexican magazine Buzos, the Russian FM stated, "We consistently advocate for strengthening Russia-Latin America cooperation on the basis of mutual support, solidarity and consideration of each others interests."

Lavrov further stressed that it was in this "spirit of strategic partnership" that Moscow desired to send a delegation to develop relations in Latin America, "including Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, which our delegation will pay visits to in the second half of April."

Lavrov explained that Moscow is prepared to boost contact, at the highest levels, including heads of state, parliaments, diplomatic services, other ministries, and departments, and stressed that Russia sought to expand "cooperation on a multilateral basis, primarily within the framework of Russia's dialogue with the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States."

Russian-Venezuelan trade to increase $300m per month excluding oil

Last week, the head of the Russian-Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce, Roman Frolenko, told Sputnik that a $300 million per month increase is predicted as a result of trade between Russia and Venezuela and that amount excludes oil sales.

This follows plans to establish a direct transport corridor shortly, with potential route options from three Russian ports — Sevastopol, St. Petersburg, and Novorossiysk.

When asked how the future corridor can contribute to trade turnover, Frolenko replied, "We calculated that trade could be somewhere in the range of $300 million per month, this is without oil."

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak assured in December that Russia is interested in upping oil production at operating projects in Venezuela. On his part, the latter favors continuing Russian companies' work in Venezuela, adding that oil and gas companies around the world -- Europe, America, Russia -- worked in the country before the sanctions imposed on Venezuela, noting that everyone, except Russia, left after the sanctions.

As a result of Western draconian sanctions on Russia, trade between both countries has been impeded but according to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Carlos Faria to Sputnik, it was not impossible. Back in September, Faria stated that his country welcomes the wider use of the Russian ruble and hopes to restore the flow of tourists from Russia shortly.

Venezuela affirmed its support for Russia amid the war in Ukraine during Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov's visit to Venezuela early in February 2022.