WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House said Monday it was watching Russia's planned joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in Venezuelan waters, a military first expected to raise eyebrows in the United States.
"We've seen the reports and we'll see how the exercise goes," US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
He spoke after Venezuela's navy said over the weekend that it would host four Russian ships with almost 1,000 sailors aboard for joint maneuvers in Venezuelan territorial waters.
The Pentagon said it was not concerned.
"We exercise all around the globe and have joint exercises with countries all over the world. So do many other nations," said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman.
Leftist-populist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is a harsh critic of the US government. Moscow has been clashing with Washington over formerly Soviet Georgia.
Chavez, who has forged closer ties with Moscow including arms supply and production deals, is proud to claim a "strategic alliance" with Russia, which he has supported during its conflict in Georgia.
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