Venezuelan president visits Belarus, discusses military ties

MINSK, Belarus – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has visited Belarus, emphasizing plans to bolster military ties with the ex-Soviet nation.

Speaking at the start of Thursday’s talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Maduro said that “co-operation in the military sphere has been very successful and we need to expand it.”

Maduro didn’t elaborate and details of military co-operation aren’t immediately known.

Lukashenko said that Belarus would like to develop co-operation with Venezuela in energy, agriculture and construction.

Belarus, Russia’s neighbour and ally, has exported wheat, fertilizers and medicines to Venezuela.

Maduro’s visit to Belarus comes a day after his trip to Russia, where he met with President Vladimir Putin and thanked him for political and diplomatic support.