Two Russian naval ships, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov and the oil tanker Akademik Pashin, docked in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira on Tuesday after exercises in the Atlantic Ocean. These ships, part of Russia’s Northern Fleet, are on a mission to demonstrate Russia’s naval presence in remote areas. The visit highlights the close relationship between Russia and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, ahead of his reelection bid on July 28. Prior to Venezuela, the ships had a stopover in Cuba, where they were part of a group that included a nuclear-powered submarine. This move is seen as a show of strength by Moscow amid ongoing tensions involving Ukraine.