Western Hemisphere
Foreign Minister of Colombia Jaime Bermúdez denied that there will be diplomatic tensions with Venezuela due to the military maneuvers in the Caribbean between the South American country and Russia. Bermúdez said that, if necessary, the issue could be discussed by the South American Council of Defense, according to statements released on Monday.

"We have spoken with Russian and Venezuelan officials on the issue and both have made clear that such maneuvers will not take place in waters bordering Colombia. The situation is clear and definite. If it were any regional concerns on the issue, the matter would be brought to the South American Council of Defense," Bermúdez told Colombian newspaper "El Tiempo," DPA reported.

Previously, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos had said that his country was "not indifferent" to the naval exercises.

A fleet of Russian vessels set sail in September from Severomorsk naval base for the Caribbean to take part in the exercises ending November.

The fleet is composed of the main warship, nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Peter the Great;" a submarine destroyer and two escort ships, as part of the first naval deployment of such an extent in Western waters ever seen since the Cold War.