Russia is continuing to build its relationships in Latin America, according to our latest dispatch from Chris Kraul.

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela's government has announced that his nation will carry out joint naval exercises with four Russian vessels in the Caribbean this year -- a move that will do nothing to improve strained relations between the oil-rich Latin American nation and the United States. Writes Kraul:

Venezuela's naval intelligence chief, Adm. Salbatore Cammarata Bastidas, said in a statement that a task force including four Russian naval vessels and 1,000 Russian military personnel would take part in mid-November exercises with Venezuelan frigates, patrol boats, submarines and aircraft. The announcement came shortly after Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's deployment of several warships to the Black Sea in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Georgia last month would not go unanswered. It was not immediately clear whether the two events were linked. The Russian agreement to send ships also could be seen as part of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's campaign to build up his military, an effort that includes arms deals, a proposed hemispheric South American Defense Council and a recent decree that gives his armed forces a greater role in carrying out his social agenda.

Last week, we reported that Russia was also showing a renewed interest in its formed Cold War ally Cuba -- read that dispatch here on La Plaza.

For more on Venezuela's upcoming naval exercise with Russia, click here.

Go here for more on Venezuela and here for more about Cuba.