Russia and Venezuela signed an agreement on the 17th of November covering different sectors of cooperation. Among the points in the treaty, is a bilateral partnership for counterintelligence. This is similar to the previous agreements on security and defence. The Venezuelan Bolivarian Armed Forces are likely to receive collection technology and training advisors. Russian Premier Dmitry Chernyshenko states that Moscow will help Caracas with “sophisticated equipment”.
Whichever technology or personnel arrives to Venezuela from Russia, is highly likely to go to the heavy militarized Counterintelligence Directorate (DGCIM) instead of the more internal Intelligence Service (SEBIN) that fell off favor with the Socialist Party (PSUV). It should be noted that the possible arrival of foreign advisors is unlikely to enhance the capabilities of the local security apparatus, currently diminished by political infighting and widespread corruption.
