Russian Navy's Visit to Venezuela Filled With Mishaps

humanevents.com ^ | 12/18/2008 | Gustavo Coronel

[Tailgunner Joe]

Why would the Russian navy -- a shadow of the former Soviet fleet -- go to the effort to sail to Venezuela? Three reasons.

The first one is found in the announcement made by President Medvedev in a November 5 speech --“Russia is returning to superpower status” -- and describing the Venezuelan visit as a “counterweight to U.S. influence.” Whether it is a superpower or not, Russia wants to give the appearance of being one.

The second reason is the Russian objective of becoming a global energy superpower, which required them to court potential Latin American allies that are rich in energy such as Venezuela and Brazil. The third and, perhaps, most important reason is the obsessive desire by Chavez to irritate the U.S.

In 1697, William Congreve said: “Hell has no fury like a woman scorned.” He should have added “or a politician neglected”. The indifference shown by the U.S to Chavez’s frequent insults and threats has thrown him into the hands of Vladimir Putin and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But even response, and attention, would probably not have deterred him from joining with America’s enemies, because Chavez -- like every dictator before him -- is insecure in his power. Not only has he bought or placed orders for almost $10 billion in Russian weapons, but he is also handing the Russians important oil and gold mining concessions.

The Russian naval force visiting Venezuela included the missile-bearing, nuclear destroyer “Peter the Great,” the anti-submarine ship “Admiral Chabanenko,” and two support vessels, with a combined crew of 1600. The Venezuelan navy would have been represented by up to 12 ships with about 1000 sailors.

Tal Cual, a Venezuelan daily newspaper, described the exercises as a “clash of civilizations” due to the strange and even hilarious events that occurred. To start with, the Cuban officers brought along by the Venezuelan navy as interpreters were not allowed by the Russians, who could not understand why the Venezuelan navy had to rely on Cuban personnel. When Venezuelan strongman Chavez tried to visit the ship “Admiral Chabanenko,” his bodyguards were not allowed to go aboard. A fistfight broke between the Russian sailors and the bodyguards -- one Russian sailor suffering a broken nose.

The Venezuelan participation in the exercises was finally reduced to two frigates, F21 and F24, and the transport ship T81, since the other units were not seaworthy. The access of Chavez to the flagship Russian “Peter the Great” was not allowed. In retaliation, Chavez refused to receive Russian President Medvedev at his arrival, sending his colorless vice president Ramon Carrizales instead. Medvedev was reportedly not amused, but his visit had objectives to fulfill that were more important than his irritation at Chavez’s faulty protocol. Twenty-three agreements were signed, including the creation of a joint Russian-Venezuelan bank with $4 billion initial capital, direct flights Caracas-Moscow, a new aluminum smelter, Russian participation in the Venezuelan oil and gas sectors and the possible development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Medvedev also visited Brazil, Peru and Cuba before returning to Russia.

The strange events taking place during the naval exercises suggest that the Russian-Venezuelan exercise started on the wrong foot, in spite of the coquettish attitude of Chavez. If this is any indication of things to come, the Russians are probably in for another rocky relationship with Latin America, as complicated and unsatisfactory as the one they had with Cuba and Nicaragua decades ago.

[DeaconRed]

Company Ten Hut!
Dismissed

[unkus]

No problema, amigo.

[mylife]

wish I had been in on the brawl L0L

[Travis T. OJustice]

wish I had been in on the brawl L0L

Which side?

[vigilence]

In my opinion the real reasons Ivan visited Chavez was a tit for tat because of our “intrusion” into their sphere of influence in Eastern Europe. Our courting of Poland, etc and positioning ABMs there to protect from Mid Eastern (Iranian) threats rendered Moscow’s Mutually Assured Destruction defense policies neutered. Now they have to develop their own ABMs with a defensive posture rather than depending upon a decades old defense through offense policy.

[Star Traveler]

The wacko, Chavez, is someone that no one actually wants around... LOL..

[mylife]

Oh.. in this instance I would have to be punching with Ivan. not that I admire their politics.

The Bear was an admirable foe. Chavez is a small change doofus with a heavy hand

[Badeye]

You ‘squiddy friend’ was telling you the truth.

[Badeye]

IN some respects ‘admirable’ does apply. That said, after running into a few Russian navy types ‘along the way’ I felt more than a bit sorry for them.

Thirteen bucks a month...even cabbies in third world countries looked down on them, refused to pick them up. No tips from that crowd, for the obvious reason.

Given the system they were under, its amazing what they accomplished in the march from Moscow’s gates to Berlin in WWII.

[gridlock]

The access of Chavez to the flagship Russian “Peter the Great” was not allowed. In retaliation, Chavez refused to receive Russian President Medvedev at his arrival, sending his colorless vice president Ramon Carrizales instead. Medvedev was reportedly not amused, but his visit had objectives to fulfill that were more important than his irritation at Chavez’s faulty protocol. Twenty-three agreements were signed, including the creation of a joint Russian-Venezuelan bank with $4 billion initial capital, direct flights Caracas-Moscow, a new aluminum smelter, Russian participation in the Venezuelan oil and gas sectors and the possible development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

It is a sad state of affairs when the tin-plated dictator of Venezuela has a greater grasp of the realities of international diplomacy than the President-Elect of the United States.

Note that this state visit had preconditions, with 23 agreements to be signed. The visit could not have gone worse, but the important thing was that the pre-negotiated agreements were finalized. This is the way adults handle their affairs in the Real World.

Compare this to the magical thinking of our President-Elect's, where preconditions and negotiated agreements are irrelevant, and the only thing that matters is that leaders sit down face-to-face to talk frankly about their problems.

[mylife]

“I felt more than a bit sorry for them.

Thirteen bucks a month...”

Imagine Hugo’s navy

One thing russia had going for it was the idea of nationalism. Yeah I felt sorry for the rotters too, but they were very regimental.

India’s Navy is doing great things

[Badeye]

‘India’s Navy is doing great things’

Yes they are.

That said, as we saw off of Somalia a couple of weeks back, ‘target analysis’ could use some work in the Indian Navy.

[texmexis best]

I think they sailed to Venezuela so that the warm Carribean seas would rust out their ships faster.

Say, how about a live electical cable laid on the bottom of their harbor?

[mylife]

They are just getting started.

But then so is China

[narses]

+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

[DogBarkTree]

Great report. Thanks for posting. Africa and Latin America are Tar Babies so the Chicoms and Russians can cozy up all they want. They’ll get nothing but trouble for all of their wasted efforts and money.

[stevem]

Sounds like McHale’s Navy!

McHale's Navy wasn't much on protocol. Yet, when the chips were down, the crew was always more than competent. Never mind that their most potent weapons were Mr. Parker and "Jolly" Wally who kept the Nips rolling on the decks of those submarines (and the rest of us on our living room floors) nearly dying from the mirth.

[Islander7]

ARV Mariscal Sucre (F-21) and ARV Almirante Brión (F-22) were upgraded by Ingalls Shipbuilding (Pascagoula, Mississippi) over a four years period (1998–2002). Modifications have included:

* Fitting of Elbit NTCS 2000 combat management system
* Fitting of Elta EL/M-2238 Single Face STAR 3D air/surface radar
* Fitting of Northrop Grumman 21 HS-7 hull sonar
* Fitting of Elisra NS-9003 ESM system
* Fitting of Elisra NS-9005 ECM system
* Replacement of 2 GMT A230-20M diesel engines with 2 MTU 20V 1163.


The other ships in Venezuelan service are expected to undergo an austere version of this upgrade.

--------- Snip

We seem to make a habit of training, arming and refitting our enemies.

I actually sold medical equipment to the Venezuelan Navy for this ship. It was before I was aware of the politics there.

My nephews worked on the refit. They told me these ships were the filthiest, worst maintained they had ever seen.

[Tallguy]

I think they sailed to Venezuela so that the warm Carribean seas would rust out their ships faster.

"Remember the Peter the Great!"

[Frantzie]

Russia and Venezuela have probably screwed the pooch with Western oil companies too. They fired, stole the assets or reneg on deals when oils prices were sky high. Now that prices are down - they will not have the capital or expertise to maintain their wells properly. My guess is their oil production will keep dropping.