Russia says wants nuclear cooperation with Ecuador

By Alonso Soto

QUITO (Reuters) - Russia is interested in expanding energy sector cooperation with Ecuador, including nuclear energy, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday.

"If Ecuador is interested, we can discuss the projects," Lavrov told Reuters when asked if Russia wanted nuclear energy cooperation with the Andean country.

"I listed the areas where we can offer technology. It is up to Ecuador's government to decide whether they are interested."

The Ecuadorean government has not yet commented on Lavrov's offer to provide nuclear technology.

Ecuador does not have nuclear power plants. Lavrov did not specify what kind of nuclear technology deals Russia has in mind with Ecuador's leftist government.

Lavrov was in Ecuador's capital Quito to sign deals to increase military cooperation and start trade talks next year. He said the Kremlin was interested in strengthening ties with the OPEC nation in the oil and gas sector.

Russia is pushing to increase its influence in Latin America in a move that has renewed some Cold War-era tensions with the United States.

A fleet of Russian warships arrived in Venezuela this week for joint naval exercises, part of U.S.-foe President Hugo Chavez's effort to strengthen a growing alliance with Moscow.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa, a popular former economy minister, is an ally of Chavez, who accuses Washington of helping orchestrate a coup against him and has spent billions of dollars on Russian fighter jets and helicopters.

A U.S.-trained economist, Correa has mainly kept good ties with the United States, but is often critical of President George W. Bush, once saying he was dumber than the devil.

Russian-U.S. ties reached their lowest point in years after Moscow invaded Western-ally Georgia in August.

The Kremlin's growing interest in Latin America could be part of its response to U.S. activities in Eastern Europe, experts say.

Ecuador has few trade and security ties with Russia. The Ecuadorean military has historically relied more on U.S. help to train officers and provide security technology.

However, Correa has vowed not to renew a lease on an air base used by U.S. troops for anti-drug operations.

To fight Russian influence in Latin America during the Soviet era, the United States supported military regimes to crush leftist rebel movements and governments in the region for many years.

(Reporting by Alonso Soto; editing by Sandra Maler)