Russia will use Venezuelan ports "if necessary"

"There is no need to build military bases in Venezuela or Cuba on a permanent basis," said Putin (Photo: Alexei Druzhinin / Reuters)

Politics
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that although "Russia has an agreement with Venezuela (...) under which, if necessary, we are allowed to use their ports for filling up our warships with fuel or foodstuff," he believes that there is no need to build military bases on a permanent basis. He also stressed that Russia has superb relations with the South American country.

"I think Cuba's authorities will not refuse either," to the use by Russia of ports in the Caribbean island, Putin stressed.

"Today there is no necessity for the construction of military bases on a permanent basis in Venezuela and Cuba," said Putin during his live participation in a TV show in which he answered questions from the Russian audience.

He also expressed his surprise at the reaction of the international community to the first Venezuelan-Russian naval maneuvers in the Caribbean, which is a traditional US area of influence.

Previously, he said that he is expecting "positive changes" in the relations between Russia and the United States when the US president-elect Barack Obama, takes office next January, EFE reported.