Andrei Nesterenko said that a squadron of Russian navy ships is to visit Venezuela before the year's end and deployment had been planned before Russia's war last month with Georgia.

The Peter the Great missile cruiser and three other Russian navy ships would visit Venezuela before the year's end, and would be joined by a unit of long-range anti-submarine patrol aircraft, the spokesman said.

The Russian statement comes after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the maneuvers in September 7 broadcasts. Mr Chavez said Russian naval vessels are due to call on Venezuela ports in late November or December.

Mr Nesterenko said any joint exercise wouldn't be directed against any third country.

The announcement was made a week after Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned that Russia would mount an unspecified response to recent US aid shipments to Georgia.