Russian naval fleet arrives near Venezuela

Russian warships arrived off the Venezuelan coast yesterday in anticipation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to the South American country.

Medvedev is expected to meet with his Venezuelan counterpart- President Hugo Chavez- later today. Both leaders will preside over military exercises next Monday with the Russian fleet consisting of ships like a nuclear-powered cruiser and submarine destroyer.

Venezuelan and Russian officials have rejected allegations that the war games are designed to anger the U.S. State department officials have tried to play down the affair:

Sean McCormack, the US state department spokesman, said: "I don't think there's any question about ... who the region looks to in terms of political, economic, diplomatic and as well as military power.

"If the Venezuelans and the Russians want to have a military exercise, that's fine. But we'll obviously be watching it very closely," he said.

Medvedev is in the midst of a four-nation tour of Latin America which included the signing of political and economic agreements with Peru and Brazil.

Some analysts interpret Russia’s actions as a security threat to Colombia- Venezuela’s neighbor and staunch U.S. ally. Yet Russia's foreign minister met President Alvaro Uribe last week and promised that the exercises will not go near disputed areas.

Image- BBC News
Sources- BBC News, AFP, AP, Reuters, Times Online, Al Jazeera English