***A year after taking office, the Chavez government signed an agreement to sell 53,000 barrels of oil a day to Cuba at subsidized rates in exchange for medical treatment by Cuban doctors. Since then, the Venezuelan government has entered into numerous cooperation agreements with Cuba, covering everything from sports training programs to urban gardens overseen by Cubans. As a result, Venezuela has become Cuba's largest trading partner.**
Cuban teachers are directing Chavez's Boilvarian School curriculum and his security forces and special police are filled with Cubans.