---
title: "Russia Sent Warplanes To Venezuela And The Pentagon Isn’t Having It"
description: "As the Russians send bombers to Venezuela, the Pentagon is stopping just short of firing a pistol into the air and yelling “Liberación!”"
date: "2018-12-10"
modified: "2018-12-10"
authors:
  - name: "Jeff Schogol"
    job_title: "Senior Pentagon Reporter"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jeff-schogol/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russian-bombers-venezuela/"
categories:
  - "Aircraft"
  - "Americas"
  - "Around the World"
  - "Bombers"
  - "News"
  - "Russia"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
tags:
  - "European Command"
  - "Pentagon"
  - "southern command"
---

# Russia Sent Warplanes To Venezuela And The Pentagon Isn’t Having It

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/18989890-1.jpg>)

As the Russians send bombers to Venezuela, the Pentagon is stopping just short of firing a pistol into the air and yelling “Liberación!”

- The [two TU-160 strategic bombers arrived in strife-ridden Venezuela](<https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/russia-sends-bombers-venezuela-amid-countrys-economic-humanitarian/story?id=59732358>) for joint exercises on Monday along with an AN-124 transport aircraft and IL-62 jetliner, the Russian defense ministry has announced.
- It is the first time Russian bombers have deployed to Venezuela since 2013, according to the Defense Department.

- Venezuela’s economy and healthcare system are in a state of collapse, prompting the United States to send the hospital ship USNS Comfort to South America, in part to treat Venezuelan refugees.
- The Defense Department is responding to the Russian deployment by upping its rhetorical game to rival the passion shown by [Marlon Brando in *Viva Zapata!*](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAc5p68U6oI>)
- “As the Venezuelan government seeks Russian warplanes, the United States works alongside regional partners and international organizations to provide humanitarian aid to Venezuelans fleeing their crisis-racked nation,” said Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon. “We maintain our unwavering commitment to humanity.”
- The Venezuelan people deserve better than the autocratic rule of President Nicolás Maduro, Pahon said. That is why the United States is seeking a way for Venezuela to return to democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights.
- “Maduro should know by now the Cuban model doesn't work for anyone, not even Cuba,” Pahon said.

### SEE ALSO: Video Of Exploding ‘Attack’ Drone Emerges As Venezuela Cracks Down

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## Author
Jeff Schogol is the senior Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose. He reports on both the Defense Department as a whole as well as individual services, covering a variety of topics that include personnel, policy, military justice, deployments, and technology.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/jdschogol/>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-schogol-188a9317/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JeffSchogol>)