Moscow - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will arrive in Russia to conduct a new arms deal Wednesday, according to the news agency Interfax. Venezuela is planning to buy three diesel-powered submarines, several armoured personnel carriers and type T-72 tanks and ten military helicopters, said the report, quoting officials from the Russian arms industry.
Caracas also wanted to invest in coastal missile defences.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will receive Chavez on Thursday, according to the Kremlin.
Chavez, a left-wing nationalist and opponent of the US, had talked about equipping several battalions at the beginning of August, though he did not give any details.
Negotiations concerning the purchase of the tanks have been under way for some time but have increased in urgency since plans have been mooted for a military agreement between the US and Colombia.
Chavez said the purchases were not to be used for attacks on neighbouring countries, but were simply part of necessary renewals of military equipment.
Russia and Venezuela have a close military relationship. Between 2005 and 2007 alone, contracts worth more than 4 billion US dollars were signed, including one for 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles.
