On his visit to Moscow, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has lauded what he views as Putin’s standing up to a United States which ‘wants to dominate the entire world…’.   An article in the Times suggests that ‘Moscow delights in irritating Washington over its relationship with Venezuela, which it describes as a “counterweight to US influence”‘.  Russia may offer Venezuela a loan for a new arms contract.  The New York Times reports on a new survey, Transatlantic Trends, which suggests that Europeans are divided on the new US administration’s approach to Russian belligerence.  Whilst 43% of West Europeans believe that relations between the United States and Europe had improved under Mr. Obama, only 25% of Central and East Europeans think likewise.  Ria-Novosti relays expert opinions that suggest that Hilary Clinton’s upcoming visit to Moscow is unlikely to herald any major breakthrough in relations.