Two Russian naval ships docked in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira after exercises in the Atlantic Ocean, according to AP News.
The frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the oil tanker Akademik Pashin are part of Russia’s Northern Fleet. Since 17 May, they have been carrying out missions that include “guaranteeing the Russian naval presence” in “remote areas of the oceans,” according to the Russian Defence Ministry.
The stopover on Tuesday, 2 June, was meant to take place over several days and highlight the close ties between Moscow and the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Like his predecessor, the late President Hugo Chávez, Maduro developed close relations with Russia. The visit comes ahead of Maduro seeking re-election in the 28 July elections.
In mid-June, the Admiral Gorshkov and the tanker were among the Russian vessels docked in Havana, Cuba. The deployment of the nuclear submarine Kazan and three other naval vessels so close to the United States comes amid serious tensions related to the war in Ukraine.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow could take “asymmetric” steps if the Ukrainian ally NATO continued to supply weapons, which would then be used to conduct strikes on Russian territories.
