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Russian navy to visit Venezuela | |
(1 day later) | |
The Russian navy has announced that some of its ships will visit Venezuela in November and may hold joint exercises in its territorial waters. | |
A senior Venezuelan naval official said earlier there were plans to hold exercises involving four Russian warships and 1,000 Russian troops. | |
Confirming a visit would be made, Russia said its ships would include the heavy cruiser Peter the Great. | |
Anti-submarine planes would also be sent to Venezuela temporarily, it said. | |
Correspondents say the move is likely to raise concern in the US, whose relations with Russia have been soured by Moscow's recent conflict in Georgia. | Correspondents say the move is likely to raise concern in the US, whose relations with Russia have been soured by Moscow's recent conflict in Georgia. |
Washington already has rocky relations with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. | Washington already has rocky relations with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. |
Mr Chavez welcomed news of the Russian naval visit in his weekly broadcast. Referring to possible US concerns, he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: "Go ahead and squeal, Yankees." | |
In July, he called for a strategic alliance with Russia to protect Venezuela from the US. | In July, he called for a strategic alliance with Russia to protect Venezuela from the US. |
Caracas and Moscow agreed to extend bilateral co-operation on energy, with three Russian energy companies to be allowed to operate in Venezuela. | Caracas and Moscow agreed to extend bilateral co-operation on energy, with three Russian energy companies to be allowed to operate in Venezuela. |
'Great importance' | |
Confirming plans for the visit in November, Russian foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said it was not aimed against any third country. | |
Nor, he added, had it any connection to events in Georgia. | |
As well as the nuclear-powered Peter the Great, the Russian ships will include the anti-submarine ship Admiral Chabanenko. | |
On Saturday, Venezuelan Rear Admiral Salbatore Cammarata Bastidas said Venezuelan aircraft and submarines would be involved in exercises with the Russians. | |
"This is of great importance because it is the first time it is being done [in the Americas]," he said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency and local media. | |
President Chavez supported Russia's intervention in Georgia last month and has accused Washington of being scared of Moscow's "new world potential". | President Chavez supported Russia's intervention in Georgia last month and has accused Washington of being scared of Moscow's "new world potential". |
In his weekly broadcast, Mr Chavez said: "Russia's naval fleet is welcome here. If it's possible, we'll stage an exercise in our Caribbean waters." | |
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