Medvedev raises Russia's profile in Latin America

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) _ Russian President Dmitry Medvedev got a red-carpet welcome in Venezuela on Wednesday while President Hugo Chavez hailed Moscow's deepening ties in Latin America as a reflection of declining U.S. influence.

It was the first visit to Venezuela by a Russian president, and it came as Medvedev's government raises its profile in the region — both to strengthen business links and counter U.S. influence. Medvedev arrived from Brazil, where he announced an upcoming summit with Brazil, India and China to create new rules for the global economy.

Medvedev's visit came as Russian warships, docked in a Venezuelan port, prepared to hold training exercises in Moscow's first major naval deployment in the Caribbean since the Cold War.

The military show of force is widely seen as a demonstration of Kremlin anger over the U.S. decision to send warships to deliver aid to Georgia after its conflict with Russia, and over U.S. plans for a European missile-defense system.

But U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said there is no question the United States retains the "preponderance of power" in the Western hemisphere, despite the Russian warships' presence. Rice told reporters in Washington that "a few Russian ships is not going to change the balance of power" in the region.

Chavez backed Russia in its conflict with Georgia, and views the fellow oil producer as a key player in moving toward a world freed from U.S. dominance. He welcomed Medvedev's visit saying it's one step toward "a new world that's being born."

The two leaders plan a visit on Thursday to the flagship vessel — the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great, the largest in the Russian fleet. Joint naval exercises are planned off Venezuela next week.

"There's certainly a political message that Moscow wants to send to Washington, and that is: 'If you meddle in Georgia, we are going to come into your territory.'" It's a simplistic view, but nevertheless that's clearly the signal," said Johanna Mendelson Forman, a Latin America analyst at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union sent planes and navy ships to Cuba.

Nowadays, however, Moscow's motivations are entirely different. Mendelson Forman noted that Russia has growing economic interests, including energy investments and arms deals — and she says 80 percent of Moscow's arms sales in the region are going to Venezuela.

Chavez's government has bought more than $4 billion in Russian arms, including Sukhoi fighter jets, helicopters and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles, and more deals for Russian tanks or other weaponry could be discussed by Medvedev and Chavez.

"Venezuela holds a primarily economic importance for Russia, in terms of being a major military export destination," said analyst Anna Gilmour of Jane's Intelligence Review. But she said "Russia is not keen to align itself with Chavez' Bolivarian ideology and deliberately avoids making statements regarding political links."

Russia has shown signs of trying to engage President-elect Barack Obama, as have Latin American leaders whose U.S. relations grew chilly during the administration of President George W. Bush.

Both Russia and Venezuela may also be forced to limit their plans for Latin American investments and aid due to declining oil revenues that have hit their economies during the financial crisis.

During his visit to Brazil, Medvedev agreed to host a summit of Brazil, Russia, India and China next year to discuss creating a new global financial structure — a reflection of how economic power is shifting from the United States and Europe.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said those four nations — collectively known as the BRIC nations — "represent a powerful force."

Silva is pushing for big developing nations like Brazil to have a major role in drawing up new regulations for international finance and for a greater voice in the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

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