CORRECTED (OFFICIAL) UPDATE 3-Russia trumpets Venezuela ties

(Corrects and amplifies Chavez remarks in light of official translation error)

By Oleg Shchedrov and Chris Baldwin

MOSCOW, July 22 (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday hailed closer ties with Venezuelan socialist leader Hugo Chavez, overseeing energy deals bringing the two key oil producers and rivals of the United States closer together.

Upbeat after the cordial reception, Chavez declared, albeit hypothetically, that Russian armed forces would be welcome to visit his country.

"If they come to Venezuela, they will be welcome," Chavez told a news conference, speaking through an interpreter.

"...If some day a Russian fleet arrived in the Caribbean, we will raise flags, we would beat drums and play the national anthem of Venezuela and the national anthem of Russia, because it would be the arrival of a friend," Chavez told a news conference.

Chavez, who met Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, said he had felt "strong human warmth" while meeting Medvedev and "personal chemistry immediately appeared between us".

"We are already big and good friends," he said.

"We are considering issues linked to our strategic partnership, be it in the energy sector, industry, finance, science and technology, or military issues," Chavez said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Medvedev and Chavez oversaw four deals between Russian oil companies and Venezuela's state energy firm PDVSA. These allow the Russians to develop new deposits in the South American country and pave the way for big infrastructure and engineering projects. Values were not disclosed.

In an implicit slap at the United States, which traditionally considers Latin America its zone of influence, Medvedev signalled the importance Russia attaches to relations with Washington's main adversary in the region.

"Venezuela is now the most important partner of the Russian Federation," Medvedev said after his talks with Chavez at a state residence outside Moscow.

"Our relations are a key factor of regional security ... We have one common task -- to make the surrounding world more democratic, fair and secure."

Chavez said he would pursue fresh purchases of Russian arms, "because the North American empire ... has plans to invade Venezuela, to disarm Venezuela."

"We are a peace-loving country, but we are threatened by the United States ... because Venezuela's oil reserves are the world's largest," he told the news conference. "And we are forced to defend ourselves."

Underlining the importance Moscow attaches to relations with its anti-American partner, Medvedev said he and Chavez would personally oversee a number of the key projects.

OIL AND AIR DEFENCE

Russia, the world's No. 2 oil exporter, and OPEC member Venezuela also agreed to cooperateon global energy markets without hurting the interests of consumers, Medvedev added.

"Russia and Venezuela are two very important oil and gas powers and ensuring energy security depends on our concerted actions," Medvedev said after receiving Chavez at a state residence outside Moscow.

He also said the idea of creating an OPEC-like group for gas exports had not been fully abandoned. The idea has previously sent jitters across Europe and brought criticism from Washington, which said it could lead to price manipulation.

Despite media reports that a big arms deal would be signed on Tuesday, a Russian government source said there was no guarantee anything would be finalised.

Chavez, a former soldier who led an abortive 1990s coup before later winning an election, wants to rearm the Venezuelan army with Russian missiles, tanks and diesel submarines.

He said Caracas was already closing a deal with Moscow on delivery of Russian Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets, and the two countries were now working on an integral system of protecting Venezuela with short-, middle- and long-range air defences.

"President Medvedev reiterated today Russia would supply this equipment to Venezuela," he said. He did not elaborate.

Chavez showed off his cordial ties with Russian leaders, giving Putin a hearty hug and joking his late arrival at the premier's residence was due to Medvedev's long speeches.

Putin stepped down as Russian president in May after serving eight years in office. Medvedev was elected president by a landslide after Putin asked voters to back his successor.

"Now there are three of us -- Dmitry, Vladimir and Hugo," Chavez told the news conference. "This is a good combination."

Chavez's closeness to the Kremlin has alarmed Venezuela's neighbour Colombia, a close U.S. ally which had hoped to persuade Russia to adopt a balanced stance in the Andean region.

Rows over U.S. plans to station a missile shield in Europe and NATO's intention to expand into Ukraine and Georgia have hurt ties between Moscow and Washington in recent years and increased Russia's determination to seek allies to counter U.S. power.

Chavez accuses Washington of planning a 2002 coup against him, while the United States accuses him of seeking out its enemies -- such as Iran and Cuba -- as allies.

For a separate story on energy deals signed on Tuesday click on [ID:L22984005] (Additional reporting by Denis Dyomkin) (Reporting by Oleg Shchedrov and Chris Baldwin, Writing by Dmitry Solovyov and Michael Stott; Editing by Giles Elgood)