Two Russian naval ships docked Tuesday in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira after exercises in the Atlantic Ocean that Moscow said were to 鈥渟how the flag鈥� in remote, important regions, and an .
The frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the oil tanker Akademik Pashin are part of Russia鈥檚 Northern Fleet, which since May 17 has been carrying out tasks that include 鈥済uaranteeing the Russian naval presence鈥� in 鈥渞emote areas of the oceans,鈥� Russian news agency Tass cited Russia鈥檚 Ministry of Defense as saying.
READ MORE: Russian warships reach Cuban waters ahead of military exercises in the Caribbean
The stopover was to last several days and highlight the close ties between Moscow and Venezuelan President Nicol谩s Maduro鈥檚 government.
Like his predecessor, the late President Hugo Ch谩vez, Maduro has forged a close relationship with Russia. The visit comes before Maduro seeks reelection in July 28 elections.
Venezuelan authorities have not reported the arrival of the Russian vessels, which could barely be seen from afar docked at La Guaira, but Associated Press journalists saw their crewmembers in the city鈥檚 historic center.
In mid-June, the Admiral Gosrhkov and the tanker were among the Russian vessels that docked in Havana, Cuba.
The other vessels present at that stop included , and they stayed docked there for five days following drills in the Atlantic Ocean. The exercise was seen by some as a show of strength by Moscow against the backdrop of tensions as U.S. and other Western nations support Kyiv in Russia鈥檚 war on Ukraine.
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