China continues to be the main supplier of arms to Venezuela, according to NGO

The Venezuelan NGO Control Ciudadano assured this Friday that China continues to be the main supplier of arms to the country, after releasing a new report on the acquisition and incorporation of weapons and military material between 2017 and 2021.

“China continues to be the most important supplier of weapons systems to Venezuela,” says the NGO in the report made from information released by the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, spokespersons and government publications, as well as statements from the military industry. press releases from manufacturing companies and others.

The document also indicates that Russia also remains as a supplier and that South Africa joined last year “with the sale of multiple 40-mm grenade launchers,” although it does not specify which countries were and which ceased to be.

“The purchases and receipt of military material that have been registered in this report or, at least, those that have been known, during the period 2017-2021, are much lower than those of previous years, which is mainly due to to the serious economic crisis that Venezuela suffers from 2013, “added the NGO.

He stressed that “some equipment”, such as “ship radars, portable radios, drones of American, Japanese and Chinese origin are for civil use” and can be purchased “freely, even through electronic commerce companies”, so there are no restrictions that do apply to the supply of “military and dual-use material.”

He also indicated that the largest acquisition of equipment and weapons systems registered in the report has been destined for the Navy, the Army, the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB, militarized Police) and the Bolivarian Military Aviation.

Finally, the NGO denounced “secrecy and opacity” about the budget invested in military purchases and that these are made by different entities of the Public Administration. (I)