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The Venezuelan and Russian naval authorities started on Monday, until next Wednesday, their joint naval exercises in Caribbean waters, which will involve 11 Venezuelan and four Russian vessels. The maneuvers have been christened Venrus 2008.

The joint naval exercises will include anti-aircraft methods and tactics to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. The Russian squadron will be led by nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great, which arrived in Venezuelan last November 25 in the first deployment of this kind ever since the Cold War. Some of the maneuvers will involve helicopters and planes, said Venezuelan state-run news agency ABN.  

"These exercises are seen as a demonstration of Russian anger over the presence of US warships in Georgian waters after its fight with Russia. However, Russian officials deny that," said Miami's newspaper El Nuevo Herald.

On Saturday, the commander of the Northern Fleet Detachment of the Russian Navy, Vice Admiral Ivanovic Koloriov said: "We expect that the next joint maneuvers between Venezuela and Russia will be conducted in Russian waters."