Despite U.S. Veto, Madrid Will Sell C-295s to Caracas
By MARTIN AGÜERA, MUNICH
Defense News:
The Spanish government seems determined to deliver 12 EADS-CASA-built transport aircraft to Venezuela despite a U.S. attempt to block the sale.
U.S. newspapers reported Jan. 13 the George W. Bush administration had vetoed the sale of 12 C-295 aircraft from Madrid to Caracas because the aircraft contained sensitive U.S. technology.
According to a government statement, however, the first vice prime minister of the Spanish Socialist government, María Teresa Fernández, told reporters that Spain was holding on to the sale to Venezuela of the planes and some naval vessels, worth more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) together.
Spanish Defense Minister José Bono negotiated the agreement last year with Venezuela’s leftist President Hugo Chavez.
Fernández said the U.S. technology on the aircraft would be replaced with technology from another country to circumvent the veto.
“The Bush administration has decided to disapprove the necessary licenses for the construction of the aircraft, which Spain has sold to Venezuela, and it did it on the basis of motives which Spain doesn’t share,” said Fernández.
She said C-295 transport aircraft and patrol boats are considered nonoffensive defense materiel and therefore unproblematic.
On Jan. 12, the U.S. ambassador to Madrid, Eduardo Aguirre, had explained to Spanish government officials that his country would not approve of the sale.
Defense News:
The Spanish government seems determined to deliver 12 EADS-CASA-built transport aircraft to Venezuela despite a U.S. attempt to block the sale.
U.S. newspapers reported Jan. 13 the George W. Bush administration had vetoed the sale of 12 C-295 aircraft from Madrid to Caracas because the aircraft contained sensitive U.S. technology.
According to a government statement, however, the first vice prime minister of the Spanish Socialist government, María Teresa Fernández, told reporters that Spain was holding on to the sale to Venezuela of the planes and some naval vessels, worth more than 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) together.
Spanish Defense Minister José Bono negotiated the agreement last year with Venezuela’s leftist President Hugo Chavez.
Fernández said the U.S. technology on the aircraft would be replaced with technology from another country to circumvent the veto.
“The Bush administration has decided to disapprove the necessary licenses for the construction of the aircraft, which Spain has sold to Venezuela, and it did it on the basis of motives which Spain doesn’t share,” said Fernández.
She said C-295 transport aircraft and patrol boats are considered nonoffensive defense materiel and therefore unproblematic.
On Jan. 12, the U.S. ambassador to Madrid, Eduardo Aguirre, had explained to Spanish government officials that his country would not approve of the sale.
posted by Marko at 1/13/2006 09:00:00 AM
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