Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez railed against the US at the start of a visit to Russia on Thursday and called on Moscow to help lead a global revolution against Washington.
Accusing the US of "imposing tyranny," he said a "revolution" was under way against US global power and that Russia was a key player.
"They don't want Russia to keep rising, but Russia has risen again as a center of power and we, the people of the world, need Russia, and China, to become stronger every day," Chavez said at a colorful ceremony opening a Latin American cultural center in Moscow.
"History is moving," he said, "and it's moving at a gallop."
Later, Chavez went for dinner outside Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has made a priority of attacking what he calls Washington's attempt to dominate the world and who welcomed Chavez, reminding him that "talks on economic affairs and military technical ties" were on the agenda.
"Thank you, Mr President, thank you, brother!" Chavez exclaimed in response, saying that "since we met in 2001, so much in the world has changed -- and changed in favor of our ideas and to the benefit of our peoples."
Chavez will also attend a horse race in southern Russia with Putin before continuing his tour with visits to Belarus and Iran -- two countries that Washington considers to be run by outlaw regimes.
The warm welcome in Moscow for Chavez was likely to irk Washington just days before Putin flies to the US for key talks with President George W. Bush on tensions over US missile defense plans.
Chavez, seen as an undemocratic nationalist by the US, lauded Putin's "brave resistance" against the missile defense sites planned to be deployed in the Czech Republic and Poland.
However, the Kremlin showed signs of wanting to tone down somewhat the Chavez visit, analysts said, pointing to a decision by the pro-Putin parliament not to invite him to make a formal address to deputies.
At the new Latin American cultural center, Chavez said it was essential to resist US cultural domination, which he likened to an "imperial bombardment."
Chavez brought a troupe of Venezuelan dancers and singers on his visit, but also a large delegation of uniformed military officers.
Underlining his country's defense ties with Russia, Chavez warned Washington not to consider the use of force against Venezuela, saying: "We are ready to die defending the sacred sovereignty of our country."
He said that weapons purchases were not at the top of his agenda on his trip.
However, last year Venezuela bought US$3 billion in helicopter gunships, fighter planes and rifles from Russia.
Ahead of his trip Chavez suggested he might look at purchases of submarines.
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