LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev toured a Russian warship visiting Venezuela's Caribbean on Thursday, a boost for President Hugo Chavez's mission to weaken U.S. influence in Latin America. Medvedev boarded Russia's anti-submarine destroyer, Admiral Chabanenko, along with Chavez, who has hailed a growing friendship with Moscow, that includes nuclear cooperation, as a sign of fading U.S. influence in the region. "Not so long ago, Russia's strategic bombers visited Venezuela. Now warships are here," Medvedev said while showing Chavez the ship's weaponry. The warships, including Russia's nuclear-powered battle cruiser, Peter the Great, will carry out joint exercises with Venezuela's small navy this week. "Such actions and our coordination are one of the factors of the regional and global stability," Medvedev said. Chavez signed a deal while on the ship to buy two Russian Ilyushin II-96 300 jets, a model sometimes used for travel by Russian presidents. "I'm overwhelmed with emotion," said the former soldier and vocal critic of the U.S. "empire." Chavez insists the naval exercises are not meant to provoke the United States. His foreign policy is based on strengthening regional powers. "Our mission is a mission of peace, you are leading us to the balanced multi-polar world," he told Medvedev.
Medvedev boarded Russia's anti-submarine destroyer, Admiral Chabanenko, along with Chavez, who has hailed a growing friendship with Moscow, that includes nuclear cooperation, as a sign of fading U.S. influence in the region.
"Not so long ago, Russia's strategic bombers visited Venezuela. Now warships are here," Medvedev said while showing Chavez the ship's weaponry. The warships, including Russia's nuclear-powered battle cruiser, Peter the Great, will carry out joint exercises with Venezuela's small navy this week.
"Such actions and our coordination are one of the factors of the regional and global stability," Medvedev said.
Chavez signed a deal while on the ship to buy two Russian Ilyushin II-96 300 jets, a model sometimes used for travel by Russian presidents.
"I'm overwhelmed with emotion," said the former soldier and vocal critic of the U.S. "empire." Chavez insists the naval exercises are not meant to provoke the United States. His foreign policy is based on strengthening regional powers.
"Our mission is a mission of peace, you are leading us to the balanced multi-polar world," he told Medvedev.
Peter the Great is the largest warship in the Russian Navy, and is just one notch below nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. It was also situated much more conveniently than a significantly smaller Admiral Chabanenko. Russian media speculates it was an attempt by Medvedev not to rile USA too much, as a joint visit to Peter the Great would have been just too bellicose.
