Russian military officials have arrived in Venezuela to "fulfil (routine) military contracts".
This comes after two Russian planes landed at Maiquetia airport outside Caracas guarded by a contingent of Venezuelan national guardsmen.
Russian state news agency Sputnik stressed that it was part of ongoing military cooperation between the two allies.
Dan Ashby has more.

Israeli military strikes Hezbollah in Beirut's Dahiyeh
Israel kills five in Gaza as Egypt hosts new ceasefire talks
Kuwait, Bahrain respond to drone attacks after US-Iran clash
Nigeria's military rescues 360 hostages in Borno state
One person killed, five injured in shooting near occupied West Bank
