Venezuelan, Russian military officials meet

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 11-27-2008 10:45

Venezuela's Defense Minister Gustavo Rangel has met with Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky of the Russian navy in Caracas.

They discussed the maneuvers that will be carried out by the Russian fleet that arrived in Venezuela one day earlier, on Tuesday.

Vladimir Sergeevich commander of Russia's fleet (L) meets with his Venezuelan counterpart Zahin Quintana in Caracas November 25, 2008.REUTERS/Edwin Montilva

Rangel defended the exercises, insisting they are necessary to protect his country from threats from Washington. The ship maneuvers inside Venezuela's economic zone in the eastern Caribbean will begin on Monday.

They will enable sailors to practice reconnaissance, anti-drug patrols, anti-terrorism and search and rescue operations.

Responding to the move, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said there is no doubt the United States retains the preponderance of power in the Western hemisphere.

Rice added that a few Russian ships would not change the balance of power in the region.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei