No bases in Americas says Russia's Putin

"Today there is no necessity for the construction of permanent military bases in Venezuela and Cuba," declared Russian prime minster Vladimir Putin earlier today. Putin did not rule out future military cooperation, however:

"There is no need to build permanent bases, although we have such agreements with the Venezuelan leadership. I do not think the Cuban leadership would object either. If necessary, we will be able to use these countries' ports to refuel and replenish supplies for our warships," Vladimir Putin said during a televised question-and-answer session.

Putin's remarks came as Russian president Dmitri Medvedev continued his tour of the Americas including stops in Venezuela and Cuba.

As we mentioned this morning, one of the Russian warships involved in military exercises with Venezuela will cross the Panama Canal tomorrow. In what could be described as a show-of-force, the Admiral Chabanenko destroyer will also stop by a Panamanian naval base that used to be the “hub for all U.S. naval activities in South America.”

Image- BBC News
Sources- The Latin Americanist, AP, Xinhua, RIA Novosti, Canadian Press, New York Times