Photo: Lev Fedoseev/TASS
MOSCOW, July 2 . Two warships of Russia's Northern Fleet have called at a port in Venezuela, the Northern Fleet said. The crews of the Russian ships will have a chance to rest after a long voyage and see local sights during their port stop. Pictured is the Soviet Union fleet frigate Admiral Gorshkov
"A detachment of Northern Fleet ships, consisting of the Soviet Union Fleet frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the medium naval tanker Akademik Pashin, made a stop at the port of La Guaira in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. The stay will last several days. After that, the sailors of the Northern Fleet will continue their mission in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean," the fleet said.
During the port stop, the Russian ship crews will have the opportunity to rest after the long voyage and see the local sights.
The Northern Fleet said a squadron of ships set out on a long-range voyage on May 17. The main tasks of the cruise include demonstrating the flag and providing a naval presence in remote parts of the oceans that are operationally important. The Soviet Union Fleet frigate Admiral Gorshkov is a modern multi-purpose ship that carries high-precision guided missiles and is designed to perform tasks in remote parts of the seas and oceans.
Welcome ceremony
The ceremony was attended by Russian Ambassador to Venezuela Sergei Melik-Bagdasarov, Admiral Mariani Mata, Head of the Main Directorate for International Military Cooperation of the Venezuelan Ministry of Defence, and Vice Admiral Edward Centeno Mass, Deputy Commander of the Venezuelan Navy.
"This is a living symbol of the unbreakable Russian-Venezuelan friendship, which demonstrates our firm will to further strengthen our strategic partnership in all areas," said the Russian Ambassador. As a special symbol of our unwavering friendship and military cooperation, our Honor Guard Company will participate in the upcoming parade on July 5 to mark Venezuela's Independence Day," he further said. "Our sailors will march in parade formation alongside their Venezuelan friends, demonstrating their steadfast commitment to defending national sovereignty and independence in the emerging just, multipolar world order."
"Today we are receiving the warships of the brotherly Russian Federation," Centeno said, "Venezuela and Russia are brothers in the fight against US imperialism."
The Vice Admiral said that during the stay of the Russian sailors in Venezuela "actions will be carried out to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between our countries."
Navy visits to Venezuela
A Northern Fleet squadron, which included the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan at the time, conducted exercises in the Caribbean Sea and visited Cuba in early June this year.
On July 24, 2023, the Russian Navy's training ship Perekop took part in a naval parade in Venezuela to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Maracaibo. The ship was visited by Venezuelan President and Commander-in-Chief Nicolas Maduro.
TASS/gnews.cz-jav
https://tass.com/defense/1811437
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