Russia threatens to deploy hypersonic missiles to Venezuela

Russia threatens to deploy hypersonic missiles to Venezuela amid escalating tensions with U.S.

Kevin Hughes

• Russian officials, including Alexei Zhuravlyov, state there are "no obstacles" to providing Venezuela with advanced weapons, including the Oreshnik hypersonic missile (Mach 10). The missile is unstoppable by current U.S. defenses, capable of striking Europe within an hour if launched from Russia or Belarus—now potentially threatening U.S. assets from Venezuela.
• Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro personally requested upgrades to Venezuela's air defenses, including Su-30MK2 fighter jets and 14 missile sets, fearing U.S. intervention. Venezuela is also deepening military ties with China and Iran, forming an anti-U.S. alliance.
• The U.S. justifies Caribbean operations as anti-drug efforts but has conducted strikes killing alleged Venezuelan-linked traffickers. Russia condemns U.S. actions as "excessive military force," while President Donald Trump downplays war rumors but criticizes Maduro's regime.
• The Oreshnik's deployment in Venezuela could mirror the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, placing hypersonic weapons near U.S. shores. Russia's Kalibr cruise missiles could also be hidden in merchant ships, making detection nearly impossible before launch.
• Russia's electronic warfare and radar systems (like Voronezh) threaten U.S. stealth tech and naval operations. The U.S. may need to reposition Aegis defenses, enhance surveillance, and prepare for cruise missile threats. Analysts warn that without diplomatic solutions, this could escalate into a new Cold War front in America's backyard.

Russia has signaled its willingness to supply Venezuela with advanced hypersonic missiles, including the nuclear-capable Oreshnik, in a move that could dramatically escalate tensions with the United States and reshape the military balance in the Western Hemisphere.

The warning came from Alexei Zhuravlyov, deputy chairman of Russia's parliamentary defense committee, who told Russian outlet Gazeta.Ru that Moscow sees "no obstacles" to arming Venezuela with its most formidable missile systems.

The Oreshnik, described by Russian officials as an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), is reportedly capable of reaching speeds of Mach 10—far outpacing any existing U.S. missile defense systems. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, a conventional strike with multiple Oreshnik missiles could be as devastating as a nuclear attack.

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