Tony Halpin in Moscow
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A Russian navy task force will sail into Venezuela tomorrow as President Medvedev undertakes a tour of Latin America to challenge the dominance of the United States.
The nuclear-powered Peter the Great, one of Russia's largest warships, and the submarine destroyer Admiral Chabenenko are due to dock at La Guaira port before wargames in the Caribbean with the Venezuelan Navy. It is the first Russian naval mission to Latin America since the end of the Cold War.
The ships' arrival comes a day before Mr Medvedev visits Venezuela to seal an agreement on strategic energy co-operation with the regime of President Chavez. The Russian state-owned energy giant Gazprom will lead a consortium of the country's largest oil and gas companies in a joint venture with Petroleos de Venezuela.
Sergei Shmatko, Russia's Energy Minister, said that the consortium, which plans to invest billions of dollars, would become an oil and gas leader in Latin America.
The naval exercises in America's back yard are a calculated show of defiance as the United States waits for Barack Obama to take office. Mr Chavez is vehemently anti-American and has encouraged Russia to develop military and economic ties.
Mr Medvedev harked back to the Cold War to explain Moscow's efforts to revive its influence in Latin America. Speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum in Peru, he said: “With many of those states in the Soviet period we had rather powerful, serious relations. The time has now come to restore those relations.”
Mr Medvedev is due to arrive in Venezuela from Brazil and will travel on to Cuba, scene of the 1962 nuclear missile crisis. Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, said in August that Russia should “restore its position in Cuba” amid speculation that it may seek to open a military base on the island as a response to the US missile defence shield in eastern Europe.
Mr Putin renewed his attack on the missile shield yesterday, telling a human rights conference in St Petersburg: “This project is aimed against the strategic potential of Russia. And we can only give it an adequate response.”
The Kremlin has described its relationship with Venezuela as a “counterweight to US influence”. Mr Putin pledged during a visit to Moscow by Mr Chavez in September to sell nuclear technology to help Venezuela to develop atomic energy.
Two Russian long-range strategic nuclear bombers landed in Venezuela's capital, Caracas, for the first time in September. Mr Chavez described their visit as a “warning” to the United States.
Igor Dygalo, the Russian Navy spokesman, said that the joint manoeuvres would begin on December 1. The Peter the Great carries 20 nuclear cruise missiles and up to 500 surface-to-air missiles.
Latin America was the focus of intense ideological competition between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Venezuela has signed deals to buy Russian arms worth more than $4 billion since 2005.
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"Badly-trained crews on poorly-maintained ships pose the danger of new catastrophes" said military analyst Pavel Felgenhauer.
Rod, Pago Pago, American Samoa
The biggest cruiser, the best guns, so what? No one has addressed the ecological impact of these "War Games" on the fragile balance of life in the Caribbean Sea. This is not the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean Any major release of sewage, garbage, radioactive waste, etc affects many nations.
Rod, Pago Pago, American Samoa
All the real action is happening under the waves at this naval exercise. For the Russian's sake, I hope they can get their ASW systems powered up.
Chris, Seattle, USA
By the way, Peter The Great is the biggest cruiser in the world, it is one of the most powerfull and advanced ships in the world, main objective - destroying of aircraft carriers. The team - 655 sailors. Equipped with unique "Granite" anti-ship system.
Aleksei, Ural, Russia
You know the problem of the American people? They always understimate the others. That's how it was in Vietnan and that how it was in Afganistan.
As a Brazilian I must say that we have nothing against the US but I think they should come down from their clouds a little bit more.
Rod, Rio, Brazil
Ageing equipment...???
Don't mention our Royal Airforces ageing Nimrods then, which blow up in mid air and should've been scrapped years ago...Nor our thinly-armour-plated patrol vehicles, which are not fit for anything more, other than going for a light picnic in the mountains.
Victor, Moscow,
Are you serious Russia used a tug boat to push that old piece of junk Peter the Great. PTG would not stand a chance against the Atlantic U.S. naval fleet much less both our fleets combined. The only smart thing they are doing is playing games with Venezuela. a political flex of muscles
Anderson Colloms, Chattanooga, TN, USA
Lets just hope this doesn't trigger WWWIII with Bush still in office he can extend his presidency with his b.s. laws under a state of emergency. I bet nobody hear that Bush Hands Over Reins of U.S. Economy to EU. Google it! Don't know why people protest!
Stevo, Whittier, USA
Russian has got those equipment you call "antique equipment", BUT without National Debts clocks runs out of digits
USA with Nonsense "Military Might" debts over $10 T each citizen owns over $180K you like it or not, America is a gone country
Where is the common sense?
Rino Borri, Milan, Italy
It is good old fashioned sabre rattling and nothing more.
Just as anyone who thinks that this vessel is a paper tiger is ill informed or possibly delusional.
Exnavy, Schwyz, Switzerland
Guys!
All this nice toys (like aircraft carriers, cruisers or sub-killers) is good to care of a small armies (such as Iraq`s or Georgia`s). In a Big War they`ll lose all it`s work. Together with it`s home-ports, home-countries (and home-continents, probably).
Peter, Vladivostok, Russia
Not to worry, the same people that run america and canada also run russia. Just another bit of fear mongering
john, prince george, canada
Can Russia stop boasting use their navy to fight pirates instead. US and Russia may not be on best terms but Peter the Great is something to be reckoned with.
James McCullough, Queens, New York, USA
If you think its insignificant for Russia to exercise any military might (however old or advanced) in the western hemisphere you need to think again. Has it been too long since there were Russian (USSR) and US bombers flying 24X7X365 fully armed with nuclear weaponry? Do we need to do that again?
Grant, Vancouver, Canada
Could we ask them that when the posturing is over they go to Somalia as fast as they can and help with the pirate problem?
Grey, Auckland, New Zealand
Howard, good point.
Britain trying hard to please US, acting as a dog on a lead
M Connors, London, UK
>>>Kevin Autry, Bolwing Green, Ky, USA
Peter The Great made in 1998 and have "granit" missiles which called "aircraft carriers killers", it is much more advanced than vintage american "tomahawk" which can do only 800 km/h) Soviets have always had strongest anti aircraft carriers strategy.
Aleksei, Ural, Russia
"antique equipment" - so, are you saying a ship commissioned in 1998 is old? Anyway, it's ok, noone really expects an American to think before saying something.
"Gonna need to try something else, Putin." - how about nuclear missiles, Obama?
Ivan, Moscow, Russia
Thanks, Richard, good point. I think the newsworthy bit is that two years ago the Kremlin was leaning over backwards to please America, and also Europe. Now it seems they only want to spit in America's eye. Curious.
Howard, Sussex, UK
These pretty Russian ships could be sunk within minutes by the US Navy and or Air Force. It is a paper tiger threat only. Perhaps we should send an aircraft carrier to the coast of Ukraine so the Russians can see what real war ships look like.
Kevin Autry, Bolwing Green, Ky, USA
If the West & its allies think nothing of the Russian move, no comment would be the best "say". What if the old battleship is a "Trojan horse". Underneath its shell may lie high tech and modern military equipment? Really, the US is too tired and overstretched and what more with the current crisis.
Lim , Johor Bahru, Malaysia
Rod - youre referring to the "advanced" US nuclear sub that was spewing contaminated water thoughout SE Asia? Or the Brits sub leaking coolant from their "modern" nuclear reactor? Neither of those events weren't deemed newsworthy here in the US. Maybe because they couldnt be tied Russian paranoia?
PT, Portland, OR, USA
It's newsworthy, simply because the Russians seem to think it's a big deal.
Uncle Sam should merely shrug.
Venezuela has its problems, and they won't be made better by Russia.
Let them go their way.
Bob, Port Orchard,
This story didn't even make the news here in the U.S. So much for scaring us with the Russian navy. Gonna need to try something else, Putin.
William Worsley, Washington, DC, USA
I just hope this doesn't end up with some ecological disaster in the Caribbean Sea with all of the antique equipment moving into the area.
Rod, Pago Pago, American Samoa
"The Peter the Great carries 20 nuclear cruise missiles and up to 500 surface-to-air missiles" ...... Plus a defunct reactor.
I know it makes a change from reading about global economic collapse, but is this event really newsworthy to anybody other than Russians?
Richard Crow, Warsaw, Poland