Russian Military Staff Visit To Caracas 'Direct Threat' To US National Security - Senator

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 26th March, 2019) US Senator Marco Rubio said in a statement that the arrival of Russian military personnel in Venezuela threatens the United States' national security and challenges its national interests.

According to media reports, two Russian plane with 99 military staff arrived in the Venezuelan capital on Saturday. A diplomatic source in Caracas told Sputnik that Russia's military personnel will take part in defense cooperation consultations related to contracts signed years ago.

"Russia is deploying military personnel in Western Hemisphere in Venezuela. This is a direct challenge to our national interest [and] poses a direct threat to our national security," Rubio said in a Twitter statement on Monday.

A diplomatic source in Caracas told Sputnik earlier on Monday that the visit of Russian military staff is in no way connected to the statements of the United States on potential intervention in Venezuela.

Venezuela has been suffering from a severe political crisis for about two months, after the leader of the country's opposition, Juan Guaido, illegally proclaimed himself interim president, contesting the re-election of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last year.

The self-proclaimed interim president immediately received support from the United States and its allies. China, Cuba, Russia and a number of other countries have endorsed Maduro as Venezuela's only legitimate president.