http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/11/russia.venezuela/index.html

Russian bombers in Venezuela amid tension with U.S.

(CNN) -- Two Russian bombers have landed at a Venezuelan airfield where they
will carry out training flights for several days, the Russian defense
ministry said Wednesday.
The Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers landed at Venezuela's Libertador
military airfield and "will spend several days carrying out training flights
over neutral waters, after which they will return to the base," the ministry
added.

NATO fighters followed the bombers on their 13-hour flight over the Arctic
Ocean and the Atlantic, the defense ministry said.

It said the Russian flights were carried out in strict accordance with
international rules governing airspace above neutral waters, and that the
aircraft did not violate the borders of other states.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said such joint exercises between nations
are not unusual. "We exercise all around the globe and have joint exercises
with countries all over the world. So do many other nations."