Page 79 - The Lord's Vengeance Of His Temple2018-05

THE RUSSIAN FRONT

Russia deploys warships to the Caribbean

Russian warships are sailing towards the Caribbean for the first time since
the Cold War to take part in a joint naval exercise with Venezuela.

By Adrian Blomfield in Moscow, 22 Sep 2008

Russian Warship “Peter the Great” at dock in Russia In a display meant to show off Russia's
military resurgence and to provoke the
United States, four vessels from the
Northern Fleet set sail on a mission re-
plete with an atmosphere of Soviet
era bombast and brinksmanship.

Symbolically at least, the maneuvers
represent the Kremlin's boldest chal-
lenge yet to US military hegemony. By
sailing so close to the American
coastline for a series of exercises
with Washington's principal detractor in Latin America, Russia seems to be
deliberately attempting to irritate the White House.

The flotilla that left the northern port of
Serveromosrk on Russia's Arctic coast was
lead by the guided missile cruiser Peter the
Great, one of the largest warships of
its kind. The Kirov-class warship is
equipped with cruise missiles that can be
armed with nuclear warheads. It was ac-
companied by the Admiral Chabanenko, an
anti-submarine destroyer, and two support
vessels.

Although navy chiefs insisted that the exer-
cises had no political overtones, most ana-
lysts believe the Kremlin is signaling its determination to challenge the United
States and retaliate for Washington's support of Georgia during last month's war in the
Caucasus.

The mission, which will formally begin in mid-November, will delight Hugo Chavez, the
Venezuelan President, who has already reveled in the presence of two Russian bombers
in his country earlier this month. "It is a message to the empire that Venezuela is no
longer poor and alone," Mr. Chavez said last week.

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