TL;DR: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has secretly asked Russia, China, and Iran for weapons, radar systems, drones, and repair support as U.S. military forces expand operations near Venezuela. Leaked U.S. government documents reveal letters from Maduro to Putin, Xi, and Iranian officials framing the U.S. buildup as a direct threat.
What Happened
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro sent urgent letters to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Iranian officials requesting advanced military support.
- The requests, disclosed in leaked U.S. documents reviewed by The Washington Post, include missiles, radar systems, fighter jet repairs, drones, and electronic warfare tools like GPS jammers.
- The appeal follows heightened U.S. military activity in the Caribbean, which Washington describes as counter-narcotics operations.
- The U.S. strikes have targeted vessels allegedly linked to Venezuelan officials, fueling fears of regime-change efforts in Caracas.
Details of the Requests
- Russia: Asked to repair Sukhoi Su-30MK2 jets, supply surface-to-air missiles, and provide logistics support. A sanctioned Russian transport plane landed in Caracas on October 27, 2025.
- China: Requested acceleration of radar system production and expanded cooperation on air defense.
- Iran: Requested drones with a 1,000 km range, GPS jammers, and passive detection equipment, coordinated through Venezuela’s Transport Minister Ramón Celestino Velásquez.
Timing and Sources
- The story first appeared on October 30-31, 2025, in The Washington Post and was later confirmed by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Anadolu Agency.
- U.S. intelligence reports note coordination between Venezuelan, Russian, and Iranian officials in October 2025.
U.S. and Allied Reactions
- U.S. officials deny planning an invasion, calling recent naval and air deployments "routine anti-drug operations."
- Russian officials reaffirmed "respect for Venezuelan sovereignty" under a new defense treaty signed with Caracas.
- No formal responses have been reported from Beijing or Tehran.
Background
- The tensions come after Maduro’s disputed 2024 reelection and long-standing U.S. sanctions that cripple Venezuela’s military.
- The Trump administration has labeled Maduro a "narco-state leader" and maintains a $50 million bounty for his capture.
- Venezuela’s forces rely heavily on outdated Soviet-era systems, with Maduro claiming 5,000 Russian-made Igla-S portable air-defense units remain active.
Broader Implications
- The move could trigger a new geopolitical confrontation in Latin America involving Russia, China, and Iran.
- Analysts note Moscow’s limited capacity for major aid due to the Ukraine war but warn the alliance signals deepening anti-Western coordination.
- As of November 1, 2025, no confirmed large-scale deliveries have been reported beyond the single Russian flight.