MOSCOW, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers have arrived in Venezuela, the Russian defense ministry said in a statement on Monday.

The two Tu-160 bombers took off from aerodromes in Russia and landed at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia near the Venezuelan capital city, covering a distance of 10,000 km over the Atlantic Ocean, the Barents, Norwegian and Caribbean Sea, the statement said.

The flight was in strict compliance with the international rules of the use of airspace, added the statement.

According to Russian news report, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez welcomed the Russian warplanes, saying that Venezuela is getting prepared to defend itself when needed and the country will do it with the friends who advocate respect-based relations between states.

It was not the first such flight performed by Russian Tu-160 warplanes. Such planes reached Venezuela in September 2008 and in October-November 2013.