A Russian navy fleet led by the "Moskva" missile cruiser docked Monday in Venezuela as part of a friendly visit to various Latin American countries, the Venezuelan military said.
"We have here the Russian Federation fleet. This type of inter-operating and friendship-strengthening activity is entirely advantageous to both countries," said Jesus Ortega Hernandez, commander of Venezuelan Navy operations.
More than 500 Russian sailors arrived at the La Guaira port where they were greeted with a 21-gun salute by the high command of armed forces and Venezuelan marines.
The ship, which has also stopped in Cuba and Nicaragua, is accompanied by three other Russian anti-submarine vessels.
The "Moskva" is 185 meters (600 feet) long, equipped with radar and "all types of weapons," including rockets with a 600-kilometer (370-mile) range and mobile guns capable of repelling threats from a radius of 60 kilometers, according to captain and official translator Sergei Ivanovich.
The ship, whose name is Russian for Moscow, left home on June 6.
Previous Russian vessels to have voyaged to Latin America include nuclear cruiser "Petr Velikiy," Russian for Peter the Great, which took part in joint maneuvers with Venezuelan armed forces in 2008.
Venezuela and Russia produce 206,000 barrels of oil a day via joint ventures. Their bilateral investments in gas are worth $21 billion.
Venezuela has also purchased a large amount of Russian military hardware.
