MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Which Latin American country is one of Russia's “most loyal partners”?

Lavrov is to visit Nicaragua and Cuba next

During the second stop of his Latin American tour after Brasilia and ahead of Cuba and Nicaragua, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Tuesday said in Caracas in front of his local colleague Yván Gil Pinto that Venezuela was “without a doubt” one of Russia's “most loyal partners.”

Lavrov also praised the Nicolás Maduro administration for adhering to the “basic principles of the UN charter, including non-interference in internal affairs.” Lavrov insisted that despite international “pressure,” ties between Caracas and Moscow would continue to grow stronger.

“Undoubtedly, Venezuela is one of Russia's most faithful partners. We are united by friendly relations and also by similarities in our positions, ties of friendship, and sympathy between our peoples. Our relations have gone through various trials, crises, pressure, but our ties, despite everything, will continue to develop,” Lavrov said during a press conference.

The Russian minister noted after a meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil, that both countries adhered to the “basic principles of the UN charter, including non-interference in internal affairs.”

“We, with our Venezuelan friends, advocate the right of every nation to become its own future without interference, without blackmail, from outside,” Lavrov stressed.

Lavrov also said on Tuesday he had invited his Venezuelan counterpart, Yvan Gil Pinto, to visit Russia. “I have invited Mr. Minister to visit Russia at a time he deems convenient,” Lavrov told reporters. He also expressed hope that the development of multinational bodies, such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) and other regional processes, will help preserve the identity of the region and ensure that it has “equal footing in discussions about the future world order.”

“These processes are very healthy in nature, and we value the role played by Venezuela in those processes, as it is actively supporting the creation of new positive processes with the framework of Celac and promoting [Venezuelan President Nicolas] Maduro’s initiative known as [United] Big Motherland,” the Russian minister said.

Maduro announced Monday that, among other issues, they would discuss bilateral cooperation with Lavrov, in addition to Russia's presence in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Russian official is to visit Cuba and Nicaragua next.

Venezuela and Russia, who celebrated 78 years of diplomatic relations in March, have strengthened ties and bilateral cooperation in different areas since the so-called Bolivarian revolution in the Caribbean country in 1999. Last year, both nations signed 11 agreements on health, energy, maritime transport, and drugs.