(CNN)  -- Russia announced Monday it might hold joint military maneuvers with Venezuela in the Caribbean, and the United States said it is scrapping a once ballyhooed deal with Moscow on nuclear technology. The declarations come in the wake of increased tension between Russia and the United States over Russia's invasion last month of the former Soviet republic of Georgia, a U.S. ally that aspires to join NATO. Russian ships will make a port of call in Venezuela later this year and the two nations could hold joint naval exercises for the first time, both sides said. Russia denied there was any link between Monday's announcement and the conflict in the Caucasus, although Russia has criticized U.S. support for Georgia, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has long antagonized Washington.
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NEW: Pentagon downplays development, says cooperation happens across globe
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Move comes amid U.S.-Russian tensions over ex-Soviet republic of Georgia
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Russian official denies link to "political situation and Caucasian developments"
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Russia and Venezuela may hold joint naval exercises, both countries say
But he indicated @placeholder might not be prepared for military exercises by then.