White House, Kremlin Trade Barbs Over Russian Bombers Sent to Venezuela

Venezuelan Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino (2-L) is pictured after the arrival of two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic long-range heavy supersonic bomber aircrafts at Maiquetia International Airport, just north of Caracas, on Dec. 10, 2018. Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images

Washington and Moscow traded hostile remarks on Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 after Russia sent a fleet of aircraft, including a pair of nuclear-capable bombers, to Venezuela in a show of support.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that two Tu-160 strategic bombers landed at the Maiquetia airport in Venezuela on Dec. 10. The bombers were accompanied by a transport plane and a long-haul aircraft. The aircrews were greeted on the ground by a Venezuelan welcoming party.