World | Hugo Chavez Russian Bombers Land in Venezuela Strategic fighters arrive after Chavez's invitation By Jason Farago Posted Sep 11, 2008 6:39 AM CDT Copied In this picture released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez attends the inauguration of a state-run medical center in Caracas, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office) Two Russian bombers have landed at an airfield in Venezuela, where the Russian defense ministry says they will conduct a few days of test flights. The mission comes after Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan president, invited the Russian air force to conduct operations in its territory. A spokesman for the Russian military said that NATO fighter planes followed the bombers all the way across the Atlantic. Read These Next Defense officials react to Hegseth's Quantico meeting. Colorado wants to give 'peace of mind' on Hunter S. Thompson. Government shutdown is here. Here's what to expect. Turns out life on the California coast isn't always breezy. Report an error