quote:

Originally posted by balllplayer:
I can see his commie friendship with Castro. Question- will Cuba remain communist once Castro kicks the bucket?

Its all coming together now...it appears Hugo plans on helping the communists stay in power once Castro kicks off...

Chavez promises to defend Cuba

Chávez and the Muslim alliance
Ties with Iran got stronger during the OPEC meeting in Caracas in 2000

ALBERTO GARRIDO
SPECIAL FOR EL UNIVERSAL
Tuesday April 25 , 2006
link

In the Muslim world "there is absolute solidarity to face any aggression intended by the empire against President Hugo Chávez." The remarks made by National Assembly (AN) Chair Nicolás Maduro and quoted by German news agency DPA are increasingly significant since Hugo Chávez, in addition to endorsing again the Iranian nuclear policy, announced in Asunción, Paraguay, last Wednesday, April 19th, his decision of "bursting" oil fields in the event of a US incursion into Venezuela.

Chávez made the announcement just when the Pentagon has deployed in the Caribbean the Partnership of the Americas operation, including unprecedented military operations in the so-called US "third frontier" embracing also Mexico and Canada.

The statements of both Maduro and Chávez help to anticipate, within the framework of Iran-Venezuela-Cuba "anti-imperialist solidarity," a transnational war in the short term, in the event of an outbreak of the conflict framed by the US-European Union-Israel alliance against the Iran-Syria "strategic corridor."

The Iran-Venezuelan axis
Heinz Dieterich, one of the ideologists of the Bolivarian revolution in a work published in the website rebelion.org ("Latin America in the face of the world crisis," September 4th, 2005), claimed that the hemisphere had been put in the Iraqi battlefield. "Latin American thinks that bombs will drop at 10,000 kilometers and has not realized that its own destiny will be decided over the next few hours." As an example of the "sensitive, dangerous crossroads," Dieterich mentioned "the horizontal axis of approach by China, Iraq, Iran and some Latin American countries, particularly Venezuela and Cuba."

With regard to Iraq, Dieterich only could refer himself to the Iraqi resistance. Regardless of the calculation error concerning the timing for an international armed conflict landing in Latin America, there is a real threat now due to the confrontation of the United States, Europe and Israel with Iran (and Syria.)

Venezuela-Iran ties started officially after the meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held in Caracas in 2000. Then, the Iranian delegation decided to extend their stay to discuss multiple agreements with the Venezuelan Government. As soon as Chávez took over, the organization of a steel industry to manufacture railway materials in the city of San Félix, southern Bolívar state, was disclosed. The investment amounted to USD 200 million with Venezuela, Iran and China as partners.

In March 2005, Chávez and ex Iranian President Mohamed Jatami executed in Caracas a number of agreements in the areas of oil, gas, petrochemicals, maritime transportation, housing and agriculture. Foreign Vice-Minister for Asian, Middle East and Oceanic Affairs William Izarra revealed the purpose of the meeting: "The relationship with Iran is within the framework of transfer of technology."

Petroleum and nuclear energy
Nuclear technology has been newsworthy. Iran, Syria, Cuba and Venezuela joined to vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) the Iranian position to enrich uranium "for peaceful purposes." As a result, the United Nations Security Council resolved to obstruct the Iranian decision. However, its members have taken different sides. The United States and the European Union back a solution based on force. Russia and China -Iran's strategic alliances- encourage a diplomatic outcome.

Iran offered Venezuela its nuclear know-how. Both nations gave up subsequently this move. President Chávez announced eventually the government attempts at developing nuclear reactors "for electric generation and health-care use," based on technology of Argentina, Brazil and Iran. The project did not bore fruit due to the cold reply of the two South American nations.

So far, oil has played a significant role in the Iran-Venezuela relation. Iran is the second world oil producer. Venezuela sends to the United States 1.5 million barrels of oil daily. It has also the largest oil reserves in the world. United States fears that Venezuela joins Iran to place oil in the direction of China and India. Also, there is a financial link between Venezuela and Iran. Both countries have proposed to turn petrodollars into petro-Euros.

TV station Al Jazeera describes this strategic game as follows: "By joining efforts in a move intended to bash against the US economy, Iran and Venezuela are committing and creating a great opportunity for other states to change the stock of dollars for Euros and other foreign currencies. (Economic war on the U.S.? Iran, Venezuela join forces) (Quoted by Franz J.T. Lee. "Why should Iran and Venezuela anticipate a preventive military attack by the United States?" March 23rd, 2006)

Chávez has vowed to blow oil fields in the event of US incursion into Venezuela. On the contrary, Iran has promised not to cut the energy supply in the event of a war in an attempt at getting the support of China and Russia. However, both governments think that despite breaking historical price records, oil has not reached yet its actual value.

Military asymmetry
No complementation is visible. Venezuela plans an asymmetric war based on a territorial guard. Iran has a regular army of more than 800,000 troopers, the strongest in the Middle East. Also, it has a notable stock of missiles, in addition to a large war experience. The last event was the confrontation with Iraq.

It should be remembered that Iran resisted for seven years that war. On that occasion, the United States, and some European and Arab nations supported Iraq. The attention on the destiny of Iran missile power made US intelligence sources to disclose a "secret deal by the governments of Iran and Venezuelan on supply of nuclear arms to Venezuela and Cuba."

Missiles would be transported in oil tankers to circumvent US spy satellites and specially equipped aircraft (Newspaper 2001, Jesús Eduardo Brando, "Iranian missiles for Venezuela," April 18th, 2006).

In spite of the strenuous denial of the information by Foreign Minister Alí Rodríguez, failing to link the Iranian case with the astounding naval deployment by the United States and NATO in the Caribbean is almost impossible. This is particularly true just when the countdown for Iran to quit its nuclear plans has started at the UN Security Council. Otherwise, the United States, the European Union and Israel could stage a war. The scope of such a conflict is unpredictable. Military analysts have dismissed the use of tactical nuclear weapons by the anti-Iran alliance and thousand martyrs on the Iranian side. The Iranians would have 29 targets already (Hassan Abbasi, director of the Center of Doctrine Strategic Studies of the Guardians of Revolution. In, The Sunday Times, April 16th, 2006).

VRICS

We should probably go ahead and add Syria to the alliance.

Syrian regime courts favor with Islamists

quote:

It also has the potential to push Syria toward alliances of convenience with Iran, an avowed foe of the United States.

Like this hasn't already happened.

Russia, Venezuela Sign Huge Arms Deal

(Source: Voice of America news; issued July 27, 2006)

The head of Russia's state arms trading agency says Russia has signed contracts to sell Venezuela 24 jet fighter planes and 53 military helicopters.

Details of the deal were not immediately clear. But the head of Russia's arms export agency said the two countries have signed contracts for Venezuelan purchase of some $3 billion worth of military equipment over the last 18 months.

His comments came as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez met in Moscow.

The newly acquired Russian fighter planes are expected to replace a fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets. Venezuelan authorities say they have not been able to buy spare parts for the F-16s since Washington imposed an arms embargo on Venezuela earlier this year.

Mr. Putin said Thursday the contracts are not directed against other states. He said they are aimed at developing the economies of the two countries.

-ends-

quote:

Originally posted by PhoenixDark:

quote:

Originally posted by PhoenixDark:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sgt_Schlappy:
Yeah, he's for real...and he will need to be dealt with eventually. The oil is simply too important and we must ensure that it continues to flow without the threat of interruption. Regarding his association with Islamists...that could be the smoking gun we need to justify taking him out. Once Castro kicks the buckett, it will simply be a matter of days, if not hours, before sanctions are dropped and democracy is born.

And just what right do we have to tell a soveriegn nation what to do with THIER natural resources?

Every right...ITS OUR OIL...they just happen to be sitting on it.

The oil had better continue to flow our way uniterrupted...or it may not flow at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Sgt_Schlappy:
VRICS

We should probably go ahead and add Syria to the alliance.

Syrian regime courts favor with Islamists

quote:

It also has the potential to push Syria toward alliances of convenience with Iran, an avowed foe of the United States.

Like this hasn't already happened.

Looks like I was right!



Chavez: Venezuela, Syria United Against U.S.

Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said in Damascus Wednesday that he and Syrian President Bashar Assad shared a "decisive and firm" stance against American "imperialism" and "domination."

Venezuela, the United States' fifth-largest source of oil, has built close ties with Iran, Syria and other Mideast countries while its relations have grown tense with the U.S. and Israel. The U.S., meanwhile, has heavily criticized Syria for its involvement in Lebanon and cooperation with Hezbollah guerillas there.

"We want to cooperate to build a new world where states' and people's self-determination are respected," Chavez said after a 2½-hour meeting with Assad at the presidential palace.

Speaking at Damascus airport on his arrival late Tuesday, Chavez said both countries agreed to stand up to the United States.

"We have the same political vision and we will resist together the American imperialist aggression," he said.

Pictures of Chavez and Assad lined the streets of downtown Damascus, and thousands of Syrians waved banners and Venezuelan flags along the route Chavez took to his meeting with Assad. The two leaders strolled down a red carpet leading into the People's Palace as a 21-gun salute was fired.

With both presidents looking on, delegates from the two countries signed a total of 13 political and economic agreements, and Assad said Damascus supports Caracas' candidacy to be a non-permanent member of the U.N. Security Council in 2007-8.

The Syrian leader thanked Chavez for his support for Middle Eastern nations, telling reporters that the leftist president had made "great stands" in support of Arab causes.

Could VRICS soon become VRICSSA?



Putin vows new era in ties with South Africa

LINK

CAPE TOWN (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to forge a watertight alliance with South Africa, paying an historic visit to Cape Town on a drive to reassert Moscow's influence in the region.

Putin, making his inaugural visit to sub-Saharan Africa and the first ever by a Kremlin leader to the continent's economic powerhouse, said he wanted to open a new chapter in relations and sharply increase levels of trade.

After a day of talks with business and political leaders, Putin declared there had been a meeting of minds that heralded a bright future.

"The decades-long interruption in ties between South Africa and Russia is now history," he told an official dinner hosted by his counterpart Thabo Mbeki. "We are actively engaged in building a modern relationship."

In his meetings, Putin said he had "seen how close and well-attuned our approaches are to the resolution of international issues.

"We are ready for the closest possible interaction on the political front and the trade and economic sphere."

Chimp-boy Chavez treats UN summit as a recruiting trip...



At U.N., Chavez calls Bush 'the devil'

UNITED NATIONS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez took his verbal battle with the United States to the floor of the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, calling President Bush "the devil."

The impassioned speech by the leftist leader came a day after Bush and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sparred over Tehran's disputed nuclear program but managed to avoid a personal encounter.

"The devil came here yesterday," Chavez said, referring to Bush's address on Tuesday and making the sign of the cross. "He came here talking as if he were the owner of the world."

The leftist leader, who has joined Iran and Cuba in opposing U.S. influence, accused Washington of "domination, exploitation and pillage of peoples of the world."

"We appeal to the people of the United States and the world to halt this threat, which is like a sword hanging over our head," he said.

US concerned about "export of instability" from Venezuela: general

LINK


WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States is concerned about the "export of instability" from Venezuela, a top US commander said, saying a glut of oil money enables Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to buy influence.

General Bantz Craddock made the comment in an interview with reporters not long after Chavez referred to President George W. Bush as "the devil" in a fiery anti-American speech at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Craddock, who leads the Miami, Florida-based US Southern Command, said the Venezuelan leader is "bigger than a nuisance."

"I think there's an export of instability coming out of Venezuela. There's a glut of money there from the petrodollars, and it's possible to buy influence," he said. "So I think we ought to treat it seriously."

He noted Venezuela's purchases from Russia of 100,000 AK-47 assault rifles, and deals to buy high performance fighter aircraft and helicopters.

Recent economic agreements and possible military-to-military ties with Iran were another source of US concern, he said.

"I think the neighbors are concerned because it appears to be more than what would be needed for a reasonable defensive posture," Craddock said.

"So they are concerned, We ought to be concerned. We are. We are watching. It's a matter of transparence. I think that's the key," he said.

Asked how the US military should respond to the developments, Craddock said it wanted to maintain ties with the Venezuelan military.

He said some Venezuelan military officers are still in the United States training and he hoped that would continue.

"But I will tell you the relationship is strained, more so than in the past," Craddock said. "It is not healthy. We'd like to turn that around but we are limited by the political rhetoric."

Chavez seeking air defense systems

Items compiled from Tribune news services
Published January 31, 2007
source link

CARACAS, VENEZUELA -- Venezuela plans to obtain air defense missiles to guard strategic sites such as oil refineries and major bridges against any air strike, a top military adviser to President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday.

Gen. Alberto Muller said Venezuela is looking to buy surface-to-air missile systems from Russia or another country to defend "strategic points in the country."

"They are for air defense," Muller said in a telephone interview. "They are not for attacking anybody."

Chavez, a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, has repeatedly warned against a possible U.S. invasion, and his government is bolstering military defenses in Venezuela, one of the world's largest oil exporters.

US Fears More Russian Arms Sales to Latin America

(Source: Voice of America news; issued May 4, 2007)

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice raised the issue of large-scale Russian weapons exports to Venezuela during her recent visit to Moscow. But the Kremlin says arms deals with Caracas are in keeping with international agreements.

Russia has bolstered its position in Latin America's arms market in recent years. State-controlled arms exporter Rosobornoexport, which accounts for 85 percent of Russia's weapons sales, says Latin America is its third largest market. And company officials say they are working to expand their business in Latin America.

According to the U.S. Congressional Research Service, between 1998 and 2001, Russia supplied $300 million worth of arms to the region. Between 2002 and 2005, that amount doubled. Last year, Russian arms transfers to Venezuela alone topped $3 billion dollars. Russia's other arms clients in the region include Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and Uruguay.

The Washington-based Council on Hemispheric Affairs says Moscow's military sales to Venezuela include air-defense systems and fighter aircraft, along with a joint-venture weapons factory to produce up to 50-thousand rifles a year.

The Council's director, Larry Birns, says Russia's emergence as a major arms supplier to the region coincides with efforts by some Latin American countries to modernize their arsenals.

"In the aftermath of the military regimes in Latin America, the military needs of these countries suffered periods of plummeting budgets and marginal status within society. Now the time has come in a number of Latin American countries to renew their military arsenals. And here is Russia with top-of-the-line military equipment, which is much cheaper than [arms] available from the United States or other international arms suppliers," says Birns.

Birns says increased arms exports will likely provide Moscow with greater influence over a number of militaries in the region. At the same time, he says, the United States is being pushed out of an arms market it once dominated.

"What we are seeing here is an unprecedented and unanticipated undermining of the privileged status that the United States traditionally has occupied in Latin America. The United States has been distracted from Latin America by Iraq. This distraction [has] allowed Latin American countries to diversify their relationships in terms of their trade and political associations," says Birns and argues this shift will likely last for years.

But Riordan Roett, Director of Western Hemisphere Studies at The Johns Hopkins University in Washington, points out that 80 percent of Russia's recent arms sales have been to Venezuela. He says Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, is trying to boost his standing at home and abroad.

"Chavez sees a build up of arms as a way of consolidating his position within Venezuela because he is able to win favor with the armed forces, which were divided at the beginning of his term of office, which appears less so at the present time. Second, [this is intended] to intimidate or impress his neighbors [so] that Chavez and Venezuela will be the dominant sub-regional power. And third, what it actually does is reach out and establish ties with important countries like Russia," says Roett.

The Russia-Venezuela arms trade has generated criticism from the United States. Late last year, the Bush administration lodged a formal complaint with Russia for agreeing to provide Venezuela more than 100-thousand Kalashnikov rifles that U.S. officials say could be used to aid guerillas such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or the National Liberation Army -- the United States calls terrorists.

Mark Bromley with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pursued these concerns during her recent talks in Moscow with Russia's defense and foreign ministers.

"The U.S. argument is [that] this is completely disproportionate to Venezuelan military needs. And there is a strong likelihood that the weapons being imported or the weapons they're replacing will either deliberately or through omission cross the border and fall in the hands of, for instance, guerillas in Colombia," says Bromley. "The second set of concerns, which the U.S. has raised, has been about the hardware sales, particularly the SU-30 fighter aircraft. This is a much more advanced system than Venezuela needs and will destabilize the military balance in the Andean region."

Venezuela mulls purchase of Russian submarines

source link

MOSCOW, June 14 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela is close to striking a deal with Russia on the procurement of several diesel submarines for its Navy, a source in the Russian shipbuilding industry said Thursday.

The South American country has been vigorously pursuing modernization of its naval fleet to counter a possible U.S. blockade of its oil fields and prepare for direct military confrontation with Washington.

"At present, military experts from Venezuela are conducting active consultations with Russian colleagues on the purchase of a large number of submarines," the source said, adding that the number and type of submarines and their delivery schedule had not yet been determined.

He said the negotiations were focused on the procurement of the new Amur-class diesel submarines and Project 636 low-noise submarines with Club-S integrated missile systems.

Meanwhile, Russia's popular Kommersant daily reported Thursday that Venezuela had approached Russia with a request to build nine diesel submarines, five of the Project 636 and four of the project 677 Amur.

The value of the contracts, depending on the final size of the order, is estimated at $1-2 billion, the paper cited its own sources in the defense industry.

The Project 636 design is a generally improved development of the Project 877EKM Kilo class that represents an interim design between the standard Kilo-class and the new Lada project.

The submarine has improved range, firepower, acoustic characteristics and reliability, and it is actively promoted on the world markets by the Russian state-run arms exporter, Rosoboronexport.

Russia has repeatedly stated that it would actively participate in the modernization of the Venezuelan armed forces until 2013.

In 2005-2006, Venezuela ordered weaponry from Russia worth $3.4 billion, including 24 Su-30MK2V Flanker fighters, Tor-M1 air defense missile systems, Mi-17B multi-role helicopters, Mi-35 Hind E attack helicopters and Mi-26 Halo heavy transport helicopters.

The country also purchased 100,000 AK-103 Kalashnikov assault rifles from Russia in 2005.

With the addition of arms contracts signed in 2006-beginning 2007, Venezuela has become the world's second largest importer of Russian weaponry after Algeria, which signed arms deals with Russia worth $7.5 billion.

Kommersant said that the submarine deal could be finalized during the visit by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Russia on June 29, prior to President Vladimir Putin's visit to the United States.

The submarine contract, if concluded, could become an additional irritant in the already testy relations between Moscow and Washington, the paper said.

Chavez Warns of Coming War With U.S.

Associated Press | June 25, 2007
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CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez urged soldiers on Sunday to prepare for a guerrilla-style war against the United States, saying that Washington is using psychological and economic warfare as part of an unconventional campaign aimed at derailing his government.

Dressed in olive green fatigues and a red beret, Chavez spoke inside Tiuna Fort - Venezuela's military nerve-center - before hundreds of uniformed soldiers standing alongside armored vehicles and tanks decorated with banners reading: "Fatherland, Socialism, or Death! We will triumph!"

"We must continue developing the resistance war, that's the anti-imperialist weapon. We must think and prepare for the resistance war everyday," said Chavez, who has repeatedly warned that American soldiers could invade Venezuela to seize control of the South American nation's immense oil reserves.

U.S. officials reject claims that Washington is considering a military attack. But the U.S. government has expressed concern over what it perceives as a significant arms build-up here.

Chavez - a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel Castro - told soldiers that Washington was trying to weaken and divide Venezuelan society, including the armed forces, without resorting to combat.

"It's not just armed warfare," said Chavez, a former army officer who is leading what he calls the "Bolivarian Revolution," a socialist movement named after 19th-century independence hero Simon Bolivar. "I'm also referring to psychological warfare, media warfare, political warfare, economic warfare."

Under Chavez, Venezuela has recently purchased some $3 billion worth of arms from Russia, including 53 military helicopters, 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 24 SU-30 Sukhoi fighter jets.

Last week, Chavez said he is considering arms purchases, including submarines and a missile-equipped air defense system, as he prepares for a tour of Russia, Belarus and Iran.

"We are strengthening Venezuela's military power precisely to avoid imperial aggressions and assure peace, not to attack anybody," he said Sunday.

Opposition leader Julio Borges condemned the president's interest in acquiring weapons, saying the government should focus on reducing violent crime in Venezuela, which has one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America.

"This isn't resolved with military purchases and foreign tours," Borges said. "This is resolved with the determination of having a country with justice."

Chavez spreads wealth, influence

Venezuela funding to Latin America challenges U.S. spending.

source link
Article Launched: 08/26/2007 08:08:40 PM PDT


CARACAS, Venezuela - Laid-off Brazilian factory workers have their jobs back, Nicaraguan farmers are getting low-interest loans and Bolivian mayors can afford new health clinics, all thanks to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Bolstered by windfall oil profits, Chavez's government is now offering more direct state funding to Latin America and the Caribbean than the United States. A tally by The Associated Press shows Venezuela has pledged more than $8.8 billion in aid, financing and energy funding so far this year.

While the most recent figures available from Washington show $3 billion in U.S. grants and loans reached the region in 2005, it isn't known how much of the Venezuelan money has actually been delivered. And Chavez's spending abroad doesn't come close to the overall volume of U.S. private investment and trade in Latin America.

But in terms of direct government funding, the scale of Venezuela's commitments is unprecedented for a Latin American country.

Chavez's largesse tends to benefit left-leaning nations that support his vision of a Latin America with greater independence from the United States. But he denies the two countries are in a competition.

Chavez says US can 'shove' terror list

>>LINK<<

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez dared the U.S. on Friday to put Venezuela on a list of countries accused of supporting terrorism, calling it one more attempt by Washington to undermine him for political reasons. Chavez said the "threat to include us on the terrorist list" is Washington's response to his own successes in the region.

Chavez Calls for Alliance With Russia

LINK

July 22, 2008
Associated Press

--[excerpt]--

BARVIKHA, Russia - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, visiting Moscow to pursue weapons and energy deals, on Tuesday called for a strategic alliance with Russia to protect his country from the United States.

Chavez has repeatedly accused Washington of plotting an invasion to destabilize his government, despite U.S. denials.

The alliance would mean "we can guarantee Venezuela's sovereignty, which is now threatened by the United States," Chavez told reporters shortly after his arrival in Moscow.

Chavez is in Russia to broker a number of deals involving weapons purchases, oil exploration and possibly the creation of a joint financial institution.

Welcoming Chavez at Meiendorf Castle, his residence outside Moscow, President Dmitry Medvedev said Russian-Venezuelan relations "are one of the key factors of security in the (South American) region."

It is the presidents' first meeting since Medvedev took office in May.

Venezuela's state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA signed separate deals with three Russian energy companies - Gazprom, Lukoil and TNK-BP - during the first day of Chavez's visit.

The three energy agreements involve exploring new oil fields in Venezuela. Chavez said they signified the "creation of a new strategic energy alliance" between Russia and Venezuela.

In addition, Russian media have reported that Chavez is expected to reach a number of agreements for purchasing Russian military hardware while in Moscow, with one paper reporting the deals could be worth up to $2 billion.

The newspaper Kommersant, generally regarded as reliable, reported Tuesday that Chavez is looking to order Ilyushin jets, diesel-powered submarines, Tor-M1 air defense systems and possibly tanks. It did not specify its sources.

"We want peace, but we are forced to strengthen our defense," Chavez said when asked about the potential deals upon his arrival.

Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-owned arms trader, declined to comment on potential deals.

Venezuela, which spent $4 billion on international arms purchases between 2005 and 2007, mostly from Russia and China, has a defense budget of $2.6 billion, according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The U.S. stopped supplying arms to Venezuela in 2006.

Russian Strategic Bombers in Venezuela

LINK

September 11, 2008
Associated Press

CARACAS, Venezuela - Two Russian strategic bombers landed in Venezuela on Sept. 10 as part of military maneuvers, President Hugo Chavez said, welcoming the unprecedented deployment at a time of increasing tensions between Moscow and the U.S.

The Venezuelan leader said the two Russian Tu-160 bombers will conduct maneuvers and that he hopes to "fly one of those things" himself.

Russian military analysts said it was the first time Russian strategic bombers have landed in the Western Hemisphere since the Cold War. The provocative foray into Venezuela was certain to add to the strain in U.S.-Russian relations created over Russia's war in Georgia.

Chavez called the deployment part of a move toward a "pluri-polar world" - a reference to moving away from U.S. dominance. "The Yankee hegemony is finished," Chavez said in a televised speech.

The Russian Defense Ministry said the bombers flew to Venezuela on a training mission and would conduct training flights over neutral waters in the next few days before returning to Russia, according to a statement carried by Russian news wires.

Ministry spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky refused to say how long the deployment would last or whether the planes were carrying any weapons. Military officers in the past have said Russian strategic bombers do not carry live weapons on patrol flights.

NATO fighters escorted the two Russian bombers on their 13-hour trip to Venezuela over the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, the Defense Ministry said.

The Russian deployment appeared to be a tit-for-tat response to the U.S. move to send warships to deliver aid to U.S.-allied Georgia after its war last month with Russia.