Russian Warships Head to Venezuela for 'Training'

Chavez says coordinated exercise is 'warning' to US
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 22, 2008 11:18 AM CDT
Russian Warships Head to Venezuela for 'Training'
The Admiral Chabanenko, Russian anti-submarine destroyer, Udaloy II class, seen in the Barents Sea, Russia, , Russia, in this July, 2004, file photo.    (AP Photo/File)

Russian warships left this morning for coordinated training exercises with the Venezuelan navy, the AFP reports. The group, consisting of a nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser, anti-submarine ship, and supporting craft, were seen firing artillery on the open ocean in tests. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said the deployment was a “warning” to the US: "Venezuela is no longer poor and alone."

Two Russian bombers have already been deployed to Venezuela to take part in the exercises. Washington is monitoring the situation “very closely,” the US State Department says. The ships may stop at Syria’s ports of Tartus and Latakia, where Russian engineers have been working to reopen Cold War-era naval bases, Russian state media reports.   (More Russia stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X