Russia is accelerating the expansion of ground correction stations for its GLONASS satellite navigation system across Latin America, with Venezuela set to become the latest country to host the technology within weeks.

According to TASS, Dmitry Bakanov, chief executive of Russian space agency Roscosmos, confirmed that a new station would "most likely open in Venezuela in May or June", reinforcing Moscow's technological footprint in a region traditionally dominated by US influence.

The announcement comes as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro revealed that the GLONASS ground station in his country—designated SS1-S—is installed and ready to begin service this week at the Capitán Manuel Ríos Aerospace Base (Guárico). The project stems from an agreement signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022 as part of a partnership between Roscosmos and Venezuela's Bolivarian Agency for Space Activities (ABAE).

"The system will generate critical data for energy infrastructure, climate studies, and territorial planning, reducing reliance on foreign technologies," said ABAE President Adolfo Godoy.

GLONASS, Russia's homegrown alternative to the US-developed GPS system, employs a constellation of 31 satellites orbiting approximately 19,000 kilometres above Earth. The system provides real-time location and movement data for applications including maritime and air navigation, agriculture, infrastructure monitoring and scientific research.

The Venezuelan installation includes what specialists term a "BIS" or "unquestionable measurement station" with Precise Point Positioning capabilities, which processes satellite signals in real time to enable high-precision location tracking.

Bakanov pointed out the need to develop Russian navigation services and their export potential during a visit to Brazil, where he inspected Russian quantum-optical and radiotechnical stations at the University of Brasilia alongside Marco Antonio Chamon, president of the Brazilian Space Agency.

"In order for [our services] to be in demand in Latin America, additional correction stations are needed," Bakanov said, adding that Roscosmos would work with regional countries to ensure GLONASS users are satisfied with product quality.

The Latin American expansion forms part of a wider GLONASS ground station network that currently includes four stations in Brazil, one in Cuba, and two in South Africa, complementing approximately 30 installations within Russia itself.

These crucial ground stations determine the distance to GLONASS satellites with millimetre accuracy, allowing for more precise positioning data for users on Earth. Russian authorities have previously stated that the data would be freely accessible for civilian use, emphasising the programme's focus on peaceful development goals.

The deployment positions Venezuela as a strategic node in GLONASS's expansion into the Western Hemisphere, potentially offering improved alternative navigation and tracking services to the wider region, which until now has mostly relied on GPS. However, it is likely to draw the ire of the US administration, which has been ramping up sanctions on Venezuela’s key oil industry due to the Maduro regime’s long-standing poor democratic record and alignment with anti-Western powers.