A group of Russia's Northern Fleet warships have arrived in Turkey for joint exercises with the Turkish Navy, says a Russian Navy spokesman.

"Today, on January 5, a group of Northern Fleet warships led by the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier and the Admiral Levchenko destroyer arrived at the Akzas naval base for an informal visit," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said.

The Levchenko will dock at the base while the Kuznetsov remains at sea. The visit will last until Thursday, after which the carrier group will carry out joint exercises with the Turkish Navy before returning to its duties in the Mediterranean Sea, Dygalo said.

The Russian Navy spokesman also said that the large ASW ship Admiral Chabanenko was in the Atlantic on its way back to the Northern Fleet base after a Latin American tour that included visits to Cuba and Venezuela, Ria Novosti reported.

He added that the Northern Fleet's Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered missile cruiser was in the southeastern Atlantic and would dock in Cape Town on Friday for a historic visit by the Russian Navy to South Africa.

Last year, Moscow announced that its Navy would build up a constant presence throughout the world's oceans.

AGB/MMA