Posted on 11/25/2005 2:41:18 PM PST by Alex Marko
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said his government will go ahead with the purchase of Spanish military aircraft and naval vessels even as he accused the U.S. government of pressuring Madrid to halt the transaction.
Chavez, closely allied to U.S. foe Cuba, has stepped up military spending this year with a slew of deals for Russian automatic rifles and helicopters, Brazilian aircraft and Spanish patrol ships and aircraft.
U.S. officials, who brand the leftist leader a threat to the region's stability, say they are worried some of the Venezuelan weapons could fall into the hands of Marxist Colombian rebels Washington calls terrorists.
The U.S. ambassador to Spain said on Wednesday Washington was still considering whether to allow Spain to sell aircraft with U.S. technology to Venezuela. But Chavez said Spain's Defense Minister, Jose Bono, would arrive in Venezuela next week to sign the deal.
"Next Monday Don Pepe Bono will be with us signing the contracts for the planes and the boats," he said in a speech broadcast late Wednesday.
Since Chavez's election in 1998, relations between oil producer Venezuela and its main petroleum client, the United States, have deteriorated steadily.
Chavez has also downgraded military cooperation with the United States and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Spain plans to sell 1.3 billion euros of equipment to Venezuela, including four coastal patrol ships, four corvettes, 10 C-295 transport planes and two maritime surveillance planes.
The aircraft Spain wants to sell to Venezuela have 50 to 60 percent U.S. components and require a U.S. export license.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has built up friendly relations with Chavez. Bono has not scheduled a visit to Caracas but that could change, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
