Medvedev on Latin American tour

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has embarked on a four-nation Latin American tour at the close of the George W. Bush presidency.  Medvedev will arrive in Peru Saturday where he will attend the forum of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), attended by the leaders of 21 nations that border the Pacific Ocean.  The Russian President will then travel to Brazil to meet with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, where according to industry experts, the two will discuss the purchase of Russian-made weapons and military technology.   On Wednesday, Medvedev will arrive in Venezuela for bilateral talks with vocal US critic, President Hugo Chavez, whose administration is a key Russian arms client.  The visit to Caracas comes as the two countries hold a joint naval exercise in the US-patrolled waters of the Caribbean. Russia held the large-scale military games so close to America after the Caucuses conflict which brought US warships in the Russian backyard.   Washington has also supported the expansion of NATO in the region by supporting the membership of Ukraine and Georgia.  At the summit in Bucharest, divided NATO leaders put membership plans for Georgia and Ukraine on hold, but they promised to review the issue when foreign ministers meet in Brussels on December 2-3.  President Medvedev's tour is apparently part of a long term strategy to strengthen ties with South American countries.  HSH/CW/DT, Original source at PressTV