MOSCOW, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Two Russian strategic bombers will patrol over the neutral water of the Caribbean Sea amid increasing tension between Moscow and Washington, Itar-Tass news agency reported on Monday, citing a senior Air Force officer.

    The two Tupolev Tu-160 are temporarily staying at the Libertador airbase in Venezuela for a joint military drill.

    "The Long-Range Aviation planes will take off from the Libertador airbase and will fly for about six hours," said Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Drik.

    On Tuesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who said earlier that he wanted to fly a Tu-160 strategic bomber, will meet the Russian crews at the Libertador airbase, he said.

    "During the flight the crews will engage in research issues linked with the peculiarities of exploitation of aircraft equipment in the tropical climate," said the spokesman.

    Moscow also said earlier this month that it would send a naval task force from the Northern Fleet to Venezuela in November for a joint naval drill.

    Russia and the United States are in rows over arrays of issues, typically the Russia-Georgia conflict in August in which Georgia got supports from Washington.