Two of Russia's nuclear-capable Tu-160 strategic bombers designated as 'Blackjacks' by NATO have flown over the Caribbean sea during a 10-hour training mission with the Venezuelan Air Force amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington DC, coupled with allegations of meddling in Caracas.
The flight of the jets was recorded on video, which Russia's Ministry of Defense then proudly shared on YouTube.
The planes, known in Russia as 'White Swans', arrived at Maiquetia airport outside Caracas on Monday after completing a 6,200-mile journey.
The Russian Defense Ministry said they were escorted by Venezuelan Su-30 and F-16 fighter jets during part of the training mission on Wednesday to practice interaction. It's unknown if the planes were carrying missiles, or how long they would stay in Venezuela.
One of Russia's nuclear-capable Tu-160 fighter jets is pictured during an exercise with Venezuelan Air Force on Wednesday
The nuclear-capable jets took off from Maiquetia airport outside Caracas and flew over the Caribbean sea, not far from the US coast
Russian pilots are pictured inside the cockpit of a Tu-160 during their training mission over the Caribbean sea on Wednesday
Russian Air Force crews arrived in Venezuela on Monday after a 6,200-mile flight
The pilots spent 10 hours in the skies during the training mission, which angered Washington
The Tu-160 is capable of carrying conventional or nuclear-tipped cruise missiles with a range of 3,410 miles and flying over 7,500 miles without refueling.
One of the videos released by the Russian Ministry of Defense to RT.com shows Tu-160 pilots inside the cockpit during the flight.
Another video depicts the fighter jets taking off from Maiquetia at night and then landing at the airport the following morning.
The Russian bombers' deployment has infuriated Washington, where US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo characterized the joint training session as 'two corrupt governments squandering public funds, and squelching liberty and freedom while their people suffer.'
The Kremlin on Tuesday rejected Pompeo's criticism, saying it was 'highly undiplomatic' and 'completely inappropriate.'
'As for the idea that we are squandering money, we do not agree. It's not really appropriate for a country half of whose defense budget could feed the whole of Africa to be making such statements,' spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza called Pompeo's comments 'not only disrespectful, but cynical,' highlighting the number of military bases the United States owns abroad.
'It's strange the U.S. government questions our right to cooperate on defense and security with other countries, when @realDonaldTrump publicly threatens us with a military invasion,' Arreaza tweeted.
A view from a Tu-160's window during the exercise, during which the Russian and Venezuelan pilots practiced interaction
The jets, nicknamed 'White Swans' in Russia, took off under the cover of darkness
Military personnel from both nations are pictured posing outside one of the Tu-160s after the flight Wednesday
Russia-US relations have reached a low point because of the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election on behalf of Donald Trump.
Russia has bristled at US and its NATO allies deploying troops and weapons near its borders, and has used its nuclear-capable fighter jets in the past to flex its military muscles under the nose of the United States.
Wednesday's training mission took place in the Caribbean sea, which in October 1962 was the site of the Cuban Missile Crisis that brought the US and the Soviet Union to the brink of a nuclear war.
On the day of the exercise, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused the US of plotting to have him assassinated
Russia's continued support for the social government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has further angered the Trump administration.
Maduro, who had a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this month, frequently invokes the possibility of a US invasion in Venezuela - a notion Washington denies.
On the day of the Tu-160s' 10-hour training mission over the Caribbean sea, Maduro publicly accused US National Security Adviser John Bolton of overseeing a plot to assassinate and replace him with a dictator.
He alleged, without providing any evidence, that Washington is using 'dirty dollars, bled from the US empire' to train 734 mercenaries with in neighboring Colombia to carry out the planned coup.
Colombia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting Maduro's claim, saying the president accused the neighboring country of launching an 'imaginary war.'
Link hienalouca.comhttps://hienalouca.com/2018/12/14/russian-nuclear-capable-bombers-fly-over-caribbean-sea/
Main photo article Two of Russia’s nuclear-capable Tu-160 strategic bombers designated as ‘Blackjacks’ by NATO have flown over the Caribbean sea during a 10-hour training mission with the Venezuelan Air Force amid escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington DC, coupled with allegations of...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
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