MOSCOW. Feb 16 (Interfax-AVN) - Military cooperation with some countries in Latin America is entering a quality new level, developing in a dynamical and versatile way, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said.
"Summing up the outcome of the official visits paid by the Russian defense minister to the countries of Latin America, we can say they confirmed the common interests of the countries of the region and Russia. There is a lot of work to do and it is clear. There is a common wish and willingness to work together. We are ready for cooperation," Antonov told Interfax-AVN commenting on the outcome of the official visits paid by a Russian military delegation led by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to three countries of the region (Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba).
Antonov said that "military-diplomatic exchange has intensified" with the countries of the region.
"Effective consultations are being conducted between our general staffs. Our colleagues come to Russia for military training as observers. The countries of the region have an acute need for qualified officers and the Russian agency is always ready to provide assistance. Many hundreds and even thousands of servicemen from foreign countries have studied and still study in Russia. They consider the knowledge they receive priceless and they actively use it in practice," Antonov said.
Speaking about joint training, he said his colleagues from Latin America "not only come to us, but invite us to visit their training," "and not only as observers, but for full-fledged joint training, supporting our initiatives. We intend to increase our interaction with practical events, especially in the navy and ground forces. We are thinking about developing interaction with our foreign colleagues in the sphere of military medicine," Antonov said.