Russian bombers to patrol Gulf of Mexico

The Russian air force will fly patrol missions over the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, The Associated Press reports.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who announced the patrols, did not say how frequent the missions would be or when they would begin.

{mosads}He also said Russian planes would take part in reconnaissance missions on foreign powers. The country is also in talks to expand its naval presence around the world.

Tensions are already high between Russia and NATO powers amid Moscow’s support for separatist groups in eastern Ukraine.

NATO’s secretary general says Russia is sending additional troops into Ukraine, despite Moscow’s denials.

President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke briefly on the sidelines of an economic summit in Beijing earlier this week, discussing Syria, the Iran nuclear talks and Ukraine.

The two leaders have an icy relationship marked by disagreements over a number of issues, despite early attempts by the administration to “reset” relations with Russia.