The top U.S. diplomat for Latin America says Washington has “no intention” of reviving Cold War rhetoric despite Russia’s deepening relations with Venezuela and Bolivia.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon says Washington sees no “military or geopolitical threat” in Russian arms sales to Venezuela, or in its sending of a naval squadron to join exercises there.

Shannon told The Associated Press Wednesday he believes Russian-Venezuelan ties aren’t likely to endure.

Russia has been troubled by U.S. efforts to help its neighbors join NATO.

The country’s ambassador to Bolivia says Russia wants to demonstrate that Latin America is not the United States’ backyard.