The Russian navy has announced it will send the destroyer Admiral Chabanenko across the Panama Canal. The ship will arrive at Rodman naval base in Panama’s port of Balboa on Dec. 5 and visit the base for six days. This will be the first time since World War II that a Soviet or Russian military ship has entered the canal. Russia and Venezuela recently completed joint naval military exercises in the Caribbean Sea. The exercises, called “VenRus 2008,” served to strengthen the alliance between two countries that have been facing growing hostility from Washington. Russia sent three ships, including the nuclear-powered destroyer Peter the Great, to participate in the maneuvers. The United States media and government is highlighting and sensationalizing the event in order to continue its anti-Russia propaganda campaign. U.S. forces occupy the Panama Canal zone. Most of the Western Hemisphere’s shipping traffic passes through the canal.
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