Hugo Chavez offered Russia a temporary base of long-distance aviation.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez proposed the use of the airfield on the Venezuelan island of Archila for the temporary basing of aircraft the Air Force strategic aviation of Russia. This agency Interfax reported to the Chief of Staff of long-range aviation, Major-General Anatoly Zhikharev.
According to Zhikhareva, last year led a group of Russian officers, he visited the base on the island Archila and saw that a small airfield, after the reconstruction will be suitable for the takeoff and landing of Russian strategic bombers with a full load. "The length of runway 3200 meters, 300 meters left to build. Of these, 200 parking meters and 100 meters, in principle, net of land should be turned into concrete," - said the general.
Zhikharev noted that Chavez invited Russia to use the base on the island Archila during last year's meeting with Russian pilots. So far on this proposal have been reported.
The general also said that based strategic bombers, Russia Air Force may be used airfields in Cuba. "To be the will of the Heads of two States, the political will, we are ready to go fly," - said the Chief of Staff of long-range aviation.
In September last year made a flight to Venezuela, two Russian strategic bombers Tu-160. They performed the task of air patrols in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, before returning to base in Russia. Hugo Chavez has called the visit of the Russian long-range aviation in Venezuela, "warned an American empire."
In July last year, Russian media reported about the upcoming transfer of Russian strategic bombers to Cuba. The newspaper Izvestia noted that the Russian crew arrives to Cuba on the transport aircraft to conduct reconnaissance and to examine the infrastructure of airfields.