A US official has said a Russian military contingent that arrived in Venezuela over the weekend, drawing US condemnation, is believed to be made up of special forces including "cyber-security personnel".
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States was still assessing the Russian deployment, which Washington has called a "reckless escalation" of the situation in Venezuela.
Two Russian air force planes landed outside Caracas on Saturday carrying nearly 100 Russian troops, according to local media reports, two months after the administration of US President Donald Trump had disavowed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Venezuela's government has confirmed two planes landed from Russia at the weekend and were authorized by Nicolas Maduro but has given no more details.
The Trump administration has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate president and demands that Nicolas Maduro step down. Russia has described this as a US-backed coup against the socialist government.
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The US determination that the Russian contingent includes cybersecurity specialists suggests that part of their mission could be helping President Maduro's loyalists with surveillance as well as protection of the government's cyber infrastructure.
Russia's main objective in providing the military assistance, including cyber experts, would likely be to help shield Nicolas Maduro from "regime change" and ensure a foothold for Moscow in Latin America, according to a source familiar with US government assessments of Venezuela.
Russia also has major energy investments in OPEC member Venezuela.
Russia's foreign ministry has stated that the presence of "Russian specialists" in Venezuela was governed by a military-technical co-operation agreement between the two countries. It did not provide further details.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in a phone call yesterday that Washington would "not stand idly by" as Russia backed Nicolas Maduro.
The United States and most Western countries have backed Juan Guaido, while Russia, China and Cuba are among those that have continued to support President Maduro, who retains control of Venezuela's state institutions, including the military.
Earlier today, the Lima Group of Latin American countries said in a statement that it was concerned about the arrival of military airplanes in Venezuela.
"We reiterate our condemnation of any military provocation or deployment that threatens peace and security in the region," said the group formed in 2017 to pressure Nicolas Maduro. The alliance includes Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Peru.
US Senator Bob Menendez, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Mike Pompeo, urging him to determine if Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua should face mandatory US sanctions for conducting significant transactions with the Russian defense and intelligence sectors.
