Politics
The US Department of State is to "keep a watchful eye" on joint exercises of a fleet of Russian and Venezuelan ships, but does not think that they would lessen the US influence on the hemisphere.

"I think that there is no doubt of whom the region is following in political, economic, diplomatic terms, as well as the military power is concerned," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters, AFP quoted.

"We will closely monitor them. But I do not think that a bunch of Russian ships in the Caribbean together with the Venezuelan ones are a matter of concern for anybody," said the senior official.

"If Venezuelans and Russians are to conduct military exercises, that is all right, but obviously, we will keep a close watch on them," he added.

According to Venezuelan sources, the Russian fleet, composed of nuclear-powered missile cruiser "Peter the Great," destroyer "Admiral Chebanenko," and other escort ships, will arrive in Venezuela sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday.