Russian Warships in USA's Backyard

Russian warships arrived off Venezuela's coast Tuesday in a show of strength aimed at the United States as Moscow seeks to expand its influence in Latin America.

Russia has been very close and friendly with Venezuela recently, selling navy ships and building up Venezuela's military. Russia has also assisted Iran in building a Nuclear Power Plant, not to mention talks with Cuba and very close ties with China.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez wants Russian help to build their own nuclear reactor, invest in oil and natural gas projects and bolster his leftist movement's effort to limit U.S. influence in Latin America.

Pres. Chavez also wants more weapons. He has bought more than $4 billion in Russian arms, including Sukhoi fighter jets, helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles, and more deals for Russian tanks or other weaponry may be discussed during Medvedev's visit starting Wednesday.

Russia's deployment of the naval squadron, including the flagship Peter the Great (Pyotr Veliky), and two support vessels. It has been seen by many as a response to USA sending warships to aid Georgia.

Russia has also sent two strategic bombers to Venezuela in September, for a visit that drew comparisons to the Soviet Union's deployments to Cuba during the Cold War.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "If the Venezuelans and the Russians want to have, you know, a military exercise, that's fine. But we'll obviously be watching it very closely."

Two of the Russian ships appeared on the horizon Tuesday morning off La Guaira, near Caracas, and the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko, docked at port while Venezuelan soldiers fired off cannons in a 21-gun salute. Russians sailors dressed in black-and-white uniforms lined up along the bow. The Peter the Great remained out of sight.

While the Russian navy has its skirmish with Venezuela, Russian President Medvedev will tour the countries of Peru, Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba, (Venezuela is hoping to "open the doors" to and increase business in Latin America for Russia.) something that was planned prior to the financial crisis. The crisis is hurting Russia and Venezuela, and will put a hold on ambitions in Latin America, one which included the construction of a gas pipeline across South America.

This deal is a big "win-win" situation for the two countries, as Russia will be able to sell more weapons and gain international power and presence, while Venezuela gains in terms of having an ally.

(story here)