Moscow says it plans to temporarily deploy anti-sub aircraft in Venezuela, amid a growing danger of a NATO-Russia conflict in the Black Sea.

"Before the end of the year, as part of a long-distance expedition, we plan a visit to Venezuela by a Russian navy flotilla... and the temporary basing of anti-submarine aircraft of the Russian Navy at an airport in Venezuela," spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said on Monday, AFP reported.

The four ships will include the Peter the Great nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser and the Admiral Chabanenko anti-submarine ship, Nesterenko told a briefing in Moscow.

The Russian ships will join the Venezuelan Navy to jointly conduct a military exercise in Venezuela's territorial waters on November 10-14, announced Caracas.

In the aftermath of Georgia-Russian military conflict over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both Moscow and US-led NATO forces have been involved in a naval build-up in the Black Sea.

Russia has accused Washington of trying to rearm Georgia under the guise of humanitarian aid.

"I wonder how they would like it if we sent humanitarian assistance using our navy to countries of the Caribbean that have suffered from the recent hurricanes," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said.

The US deployment of missile shield in Eastern Europe and the Georgia crisis have contributed to a rapid response by Russia whose security was under threat.

Moscow had earlier announced that Russia's long-range nuclear bombers might also start flying to Cuba.

But Washington said Monday that it was monitoring Russia-Venezuela planned military drill. "We've seen the reports and we'll see how the exercise goes," US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

Russia says its South American naval visit "is not in any way connected to the current situation in the Caucasus," and that "it is not aimed at any third country."

RB/RA