Russian bombers will return in days from Venezuela

By Conor Sweeney

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Two Russian long-range bombers will return to base from Venezuela in four days after a visit designed to show off Moscow's military strength and build ties with a foe of the United States.

The bombers, known in the West by the NATO codename "Blackjack", are capable of carrying nuclear weapons but were not doing so during the flight to South America. They will return to Russia on September 15, Air Force commander Vladimir Drik told Interfax news agency.

"There were no nuclear weapons on board these planes," Drik said.

The visit by the Tu-160 bombers is a sign of Russian assertiveness at a time of tension with the United States, including over the Russia-Georgia conflict and U.S. plans for a missile defence shield in eastern Europe.

Residents could see the large white bombers -- one emblazoned with a red star and the Russian flag, the other carrying a blue circle with a picture of a swan -- standing at a Venezuelan air force base near the industrial city of Maracay.

On Wednesday Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the planes were in the South American oil-exporting nation to strengthen military ties and counter U.S. regional influence.

JOINT EXERCISES

The bombers arrived days after Russia and Venezuela said they would conduct joint naval exercises in the Caribbean later this year involving a nuclear-powered Russian battleship.

The Russian military also held out the possibility of future flights to Cuba and that Chavez may fly on board the Blackjacks currently in his country. Chavez's motorcade was seen at one point driving into the military base.

A close ally of Cuba who calls its former leader Fidel Castro a mentor, Chavez has already joked he will greet his friend from one of the bombers.

"I'm going to fly one of those beasts," Chavez said on Wednesday.

When asked to comment, the head of the Russian Air Force's long-distance command, Pavel Androsov, said that any requests would be considered positively.

"If they ask us, then fine, if they give us such an order, we will safely transport him (Chavez) and show him the Caribbean from above," Androsov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

Androsov said Russian military experts had studied Cuban airfields and there would be no problems landing there, but that this was not currently planned.

U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the presence of the Russian bombers was "something that we will watch very closely".