Venezuela plans new Caribbean naval base

Rockville · Post by **Rockville** » 21 Oct 2008, 21:38

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says a big naval base will be built on Venezuela’s largest island.
Chavez says Margarita Island’s strategic location off Venezuela’s coast in the Caribbean Sea makes it perfect for “a naval base of large proportions.”
Margarita covers an area of about 394 square miles. It is a popular tourist destination and is home to about 450,000 Venezuelans.
Chavez says a naval base there will help authorities fight drug trafficking.
Chavez’s office said Monday that the president visited the island on Sunday along with American actor Sean Penn and Venezuelan Indy car driver Milka Duno.
U.S. officials have expressed concern about Venezuela’s Russian-backed military buildup.

The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Oct 21, 2008 12:00:59 EDT

Rockville · Post by **Rockville** » 21 Oct 2008, 21:39

Could be interesting for spotters, if the airfield would host military aircraft.

Antilliaan · Post by **Antilliaan** » 20 Nov 2008, 14:03

In fact, it does have military aircraft already.

The national guard has a unit there and as the gunnery ranges of the air force are in the area, the airfield frequently hosts Venezuelan fighters as well. You just need to be lucky to catch them.