A Russian newspaper says Russia is planning to sell up to nine submarines to Venezuela.
The reports Thursday that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is expected to sign the deal during a trip to Moscow, which starts June 29. The contract would include five older, 636-type diesel submarines and the future delivery of four state-of-the-art 677 Amur submarines. Russia has also supplied similar submarines to China.
In recent years, Venezuela has become a major buyer of Russian arms, a development that has prompted expressions of concern by the United States. Previous Russian arms deals have supplied Venezuela with Kalashnikov rifles, jets, helicopters, and other weaponry.
Venezuela's president is a fierce critic of the Bush administration and says it supported the coup against him in April 2002. U.S. officials have denied the charge.