Russia engages in 'gangland' diplomacy as it sends warship to the Caribbean

Russia flexed its muscles in America’s backyard today as it sent one of its largest warships to join military exercises in the Caribbean. The nuclear-powered flagship Peter the Great set off for Venezuela with the submarine destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and two support vessels in Russia’s first naval mission in Latin America since the end of the Cold War. “The St Andrew flag, the flag of the Russian Navy, is confidently returning to the world oceans,” said Igor Dygalo, a Russian navy spokesman. He declined to comment on Russian newspaper reports that nuclear submarines were also part of the expedition. The voyage to join Venezuela’s navy for manoeuvres comes just days after Russian strategic nuclear bombers made their first visit to the country. President Hugo Chavez said then that the arrival of the strike force was a “warning” to the US.