Venezuela's Chavez touts $2.2 billion arms deal with Russia
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After meeting with Russian officials last week, Venezuelan President Hugo Ch谩vez announced that Russia will lend his country $2.2 billion to update its military arsenal. The money will be used to purchase 92 T-72 tanks and an S-300 anti-aircraft rocket system.
The announcement comes amid growing tensions between Venezuela and neighboring Colombia. The US recently signed an agreement with Colombia to use several of its military bases as part of an effort that Colombia says will help in the drug war and fighting left-wing guerrillas. Mr. Ch谩vez says the American-Colombian partnership threatens the security of his nation and the region as a whole.
Notably, the new anti-aircraft weapons systems will allow Venezuela to create a multilayer defense system, reports the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. In addition to the S-300 rocket systems, , each capable of operating a different ranges.
Despite tensions with Colombia, Ch谩vez insists that the new weapons are primarily for the purpose of defending his nation against an attack by the US. In particular, he says that this new anti-aircraft defense system will act as a deterrent to stop the US from bombing Venezuela. Citing his nation's oil and gas reserves, Ch谩vez added that , reports the BBC.
A longtime critic of the US, Ch谩vez has accused Washington of planning to attack Venezuela on numerous occasions. Much of the equipment in the Latin American nation's military arsenal was out of date, and reports Iran's Press TV.
Russia's Itar Tass news agency reports that in his usual bravado, the Venezuelan president to obscure the terms of his latest agreement with the Russians in his Sunday presidential newscast, Al贸 Presidente.
Russia has signed more than $4 billion worth of weapons contracts with Venezuela over the last four years. Ch谩vez has long expressed an interest in building up his nation's military with the help of the Russians. Aside from numerous weapons agreements, the two nations appear to have strong ties. Last November, Venezuelan and Russian forces performed a joint military exercise in the Caribbean, traditionally a US-dominated zone, reports Agence France-Presse.
[Editor's note: The original headline misstated the value of the arms deal.]
