When I am a Wenrus

The warships of Russia and Venezuela begin joint exercises in the Caribbean near the territorial waters of the United States. According to RIA Novosti, in maneuvers entitled "Venus-2008", which will last in the neutral waters of the Caribbean until December 3, about 1,600 Russian sailors and 700 Venezuela navy take part. "The deployment of forces is completed. The ships work out episodes of the exercises," said Igor Digalo, assistant to the Commander -in -Chief of the Navy.

The main goal of the maneuvers is “Organization of interaction in the open sea of ​​the battle ships of the two countries, which before that have never been completed together anywhere under a single command,” Dygalo said. These are the first maneuvers of the Russian fleet in this region since the Cold War.

From the Russian side, the heavy atomic missile cruiser Peter the Great, the large anti -submarine ship Admiral Chabanenko, as well as two support vessels take part in the exercises. In maneuvers will be involved in the helicopters of the ship's base "Peter the Great" and "Admiral Chabanenko". On the ships of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy, which came to Venezuela, there are about 1,600 Russian marine infantrymen.

According to the Venezuela Ministry of Defense, three frigates, an amphibian transport ship, four patrol ships, four coastal guards, as well as the Su-30MK2 fighter squads will participate in the exercises from the Venezuelan side in the exercises. In addition, the exercises will be attended by units of the Venezuelan armed forces consisting of 700 people.

The naval exercises will be held in accordance with the agreements reached, outside the territorial waters of Venezuela, in its economic zone, at the removal of 100-150 naval miles from the coast.

In September of this year, two strategic bomber of the Russian Air Force Tu-160 landed at the Libertador military airfield in Venezuela. Venezuela President Hugo Chavez previously stated that his country will always be glad to accept Russian warships and aircraft. “If the Russian fleet comes to the Caribbean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean, then it can visit Venezuela on a visit. Welcome! We have no problems with this,” he said, speaking on August 31 in the traditional Sunday television program “Allo, President”. “If the long -term aviation of Russia has the need to land on the territory of Venezuela, we will also meet them and we will also meet them.”

Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the exercises were supposed to be held on November 10-14.