Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday embarked on a four-nation Latin American tour seen as sending a defiant message to the US at the close of the George W. Bush presidency.
The tour, including talks with the outgoing US leader, naval exercises off Venezuela and a visit to arch US foe Cuba, has raised fears of renewed Cold War-style rivalry in Latin America, while also attracting skepticism.
“The current level of cooperation could be broader than in the Soviet era. Latin America has already ceased to be the United States’ backyard,” a Russian diplomat told the Russian daily Kommersant ahead of Medvedev’s arrival from Portugal.
“Now the region is following its own line, which gives Russia an opportunity to strengthen our position,” the official said.
Medvedev arrived in Peru early yesterday, meeting Bush at the APEC forum, where Russia’s anti-US stance and absence from the WTO contrasts with most APEC states.
Officials said Bush and Medvedev would discuss the global financial crisis, the August war in Georgia and the touchstone issue of US missile defense plans in eastern Europe.
Today, Medvedev was also to hold talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), whose own Latin American tour this week underlined growing outside interest in the region.
Russian analysts say Moscow’s quest for influence in Latin America is intended to counter US influence in the former Soviet satellites of eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Tomorrow, the Russian leader heads to Brazil, a key trading partner.
On Wednesday, he goes to Venezuela for talks with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of Washington, as Russian warships prepare for joint exercises in the Caribbean Sea.
Russian media say officials will pursue arms and energy deals with Venezuela, whose Russian weapons purchases have prompted concern that arms stockpiles could fall into the hands of leftist rebels in neighboring Colombia.
Lima-based analyst Alejandro Deustua, of the country’s Diplomatic Academy, criticized Russia’s role in South America, saying it was time for Russia to “explain plainly to each South American country what their intentions are with these military exercises.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insisted Russian weapons sold in Latin America were defensive rather than offensive and that Russian moves were not aimed at “third countries” — a clear reference to the US, RIA Novosti reported.
Medvedev rounds off his tour in Cuba, the flagship ally of the Soviet Union in the Cold War and the US’ communist foe in the western hemisphere since the late 1950s.
Russian energy firms have been seeking projects in Latin America such as possible involvement in a planned South American gas pipeline.
A proposed Russian purchase of Spanish energy company Repsol — a major player in the region — could advance such goals.
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