Russian Fleet Plans Joint Exercise with Venezuela

Neil Richard Leslie | September 08, 2008

Russia and Venezuela may stage joint naval exercises around Venezuelan territorial waters this November when four Russian warships arrive in the Caribbean, according to BBC reports. Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has welcomed news of the Russian fleet's proposed visit, dismissing US concerns about Russian enroachment in the area. Mr Chavez said: "Russia's naval fleet is welcome here. If it's possible, we'll stage an exercise in our Caribbean waters." It will be the first time such an exercise has been undertaken in the Americas.

Despite American concerns, Russian foreign ministry spokesman, Andrei Nesterenko, inisisted the move had no connection to events in Georgia, and was in no way directed against any third country. President Chavez, who has already called for a strategic alliance between Venezuela and the Kremlin, supported the Russian intervention in Georgia, and has accused the US of being scared of Moscow's "new world potential."