Moscow 'withdraws hundreds of key defense advisers from Venezuela with just a few dozen now left in the country' in a fresh blow to President Maduro
- Russian military contractor said to have slashed its staff deployed to Venezuela
- Rostec advisers to Maduro's regime went from around 1,000 to just a few dozen
- State-backed firm was helping secure arms contracts and train Maduro's troops
- Pullout attributed to lack of funds from Venezuelan government to pay contracts
Russia has reportedly withdrawn defense advisers from Venezuela as the embattled regime can no longer afford to pay for its support.
Nicolas Maduro's regime has taken around 1,000 Russian troops since opposition leader Juan Guaido launched his bid to topple the president at the end of April.
But Kremlin-backed state defense contractor Rostec cut its staff to just a few dozen, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The firm worked with Venezuelan troops and advised Maduro's regime as well as helped to secure arms deals.
Moscow first deployed around 100 soldiers in March to bolster the Caracas regime that faced a growing crisis since Guaido proclaimed himself acting president and is now recognized by dozens of countries as leader, including the US.
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro waving during a rally in Caracas last week. Russian backing has been central to his pledge to remain in power
Supporters of Venezuela's opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido listen to him speak during a rally in Barinas, Venezuela, on Saturday
The gradual withdrawal has been attributed to the Venezuelan government being unable to continue to pay for Rostec's support.
Venezuela was one of Russia's largest defense customers, but as the country continues to descend into chaos the money for outsourcing defense dried up
Cash for past military contracts has also been cut by the oil-rich nation, sources reportedly told the Wall Street Journal.
Russian military experts have been training the Venezuelans 'in maintaining combat readiness of their equipment and teach them how best to use it', Russian ambassador in Venezuela Vladimir Zaemsky said last month.
They are legally allowed to be there under an agreement signed between the two countries in 2001, he added.
Since the attempted coup of opposition forces in Venezuela and some key military defections, Maduro has surrounded himself with foreign backers, mainly in the from of Cuba and Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has given military backing to Venezuela. But state contractor Rostec has reportedly slashed its advisers as the country can no longer pay for its support
Venezuela's opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, center, greets supporters during a a rally in Barinas, Venezuela, on Saturday
Russian troops in Venezuela have been helping Maduro's embattled regime prepare in the face of the 'threat of the use of force' by the US, Zaemsky said last month.
He said: 'The Venezuelan government has been in a state of anxious anticipation since the US has repeatedly threatened to use force against the country.'
Putin's presence in Venezuela increased already high tensions between Washington and Moscow, with President Trump last month calling for Russia to 'get out' of the South American country.
Venezuela has been ruled by Russian-backed Maduro for five years, and the country was at the center of a stand off between Putin and Trump this year as the White House tried to support Guadio's claim to power.
Guaido, President of the National Assembly and who has been recognized as the country's leader by 54 nations, claimed to have have won the election in January.
But Maduro clung to power and socialist rule continues in Venezuela amid soaring hyper inflation that has left many digging through garbage for food and collecting water from drains.
Backing from Russia and China has been central to Maduro's claims to be able to repel attempts to unseat him.
Maduro has presided over the collapse of oil-rich Venezuela's economy, leading to shortages of basic food and medicine.
An estimated three million people have fled the crisis in Venezuela since 2015, most of whom should be considered refugees, the United Nations said
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is visiting the Netherlands today for talks with his Dutch counterpart where he is expected to raise the Venezuela crisis as well as NATO funding and growing tensions between Washington and Iran.
He previously said, 'we don't want anyone messing around with Venezuela', when asked about Russian involvement in the country.
Yesterday Canada announced it is suspending operations at its embassy in Venezuela. The last remaining US officials left on March 14, the State Department said at the time.
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