Venezuela, Spain proceed with military deal

ISN SECURITY WATCH (Wednesday, 12 April 2006: 13.42 CET) – Venezuela has announced it will purchase ten military transport planes and eight patrol boats from Spain despite Washington’s objections and attempts to stop the deal.

Venezuelan navy experts reportedly are scheduled to visit Spain soon to supervise the construction of the patrol boats and transport planes, according to news agencies.

Angel Lopez Rojas, the Venezuelan army’s logistics chief, was quoted by reporters as saying that the first patrol boat would be delivered in 2008, with each additional vessel coming every six months thereafter.

Spain and Venezuela agreed to the US$2 billion deal last November.

Early this year, however, the US said it would not allow Spain to sell military planes or ships using American technological components. Washington said the deal would help Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez shake up the balance of power in South America and destabilize the region.

The US has also refused to allow Brazil to sell military training planes with US technology to Venezuela. Washington also harshly criticized Russia’s sale of 100,000 rifles and 15 helicopters to Venezuela.

Chavez said the new equipment would help protect Venezuela from a possible US invasion.