Russian ships wrap up exercises with Venezuela [View All]

[unhappycamper]

Russian ships wrap up exercises with Venezuela
By Christopher Toothaker - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Dec 2, 2008 20:58:34 EST

CARACAS, Venezuela — Russian warships have ended training exercises with Venezuela’s navy in Moscow’s first such Caribbean deployment since the Cold War.

Russian television on Tuesday showed images of a Venezuelan-operated Sukhoi fighter jet swooping low over Russian warships in a simulated air attack.

The exercises that ended late Monday with a fireworks display included an air defense exercise and joint actions to spot, pursue and detain an intruding vessel, Russian navy spokesman Capt. Igor Dygalo said.

The Russian ships arrived in Venezuela last week in an operation widely seen as a show of Kremlin anger over the U.S. decision to deliver aid to Georgia aboard warships following that country’s conflict with Russia.

President Hugo Chavez has said the naval exercises weren’t meant as a provocation to the U.S. or any other nation. He has praised Russia for raising its profile in the Americas, while saying the U.S. Navy’s recently reactivated 4th Fleet poses a threat to Venezuela.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/12/ap_russia_venezuela_120208/%2e