coolwhip
07-28-2006, 10:19 AM
MOSCOW (AP) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Thursday that Russia had helped his country break a U.S.-imposed "blockade" by agreeing to sell Caracas fighter planes and helicopters worth billions of dollars.
Neither Chavez nor Russian leader Vladimir Putin gave details about any new deals signed Thursday, but Russia's defense minister said last week that Moscow had agreed to sell the oil-rich South American nation about 30 Su-30 fighter jets and some 30 military helicopters.
Putin said Thursday that Moscow and Caracas would prove "reliable partners" and -- in comments clearly aimed at Washington -- said their cooperation should not be viewed as being "aimed against any third country."
The head of Russia's state arms-trading agency, Sergei Chemezov, said Venezuela over the last 18 months had signed contracts for arms purchases including 24 military planes and 53 helicopters for more than $3 billion, the Interfax news agency reported.
The helicopter and fighter plane deal announced last week by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will cost Caracas $1 billion.
Chavez, who has become an increasing thorn in Washington's side because of his anti-U.S policies, is also hoping to set up Kalashnikov weapons and ammunition plants in Venezuela.
The Venezuelan leader spoke Thursday of the "astonishing progress in military-technical cooperation" -- a euphemism for arms sales -- and repeated his thanks to Putin for supplying Caracas with weaponry.
In opening remarks at his Kremlin meeting, Chavez said the fighter jets were critical because it was unable to purchase replacement parts for its aging fleet of U.S.-made F-16s.
The United States in May announced a ban on U.S. arms sales to Venezuela.
"We would like to thank you for delivering us from a blockade," Chavez said. "We were almost disarmed."
He also thanked Russia for supporting Venezuela's push for a non-permanent U.N. Security Council seat -- which the U.S. government is lobbying to block.
Chavez has used surging oil revenues to modernize Venezuela's military, signing multibillion defense deals with Russia and Spain. Venezuela also has agreed to buy 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles.
The United States underlined its opposition to the arms sales Tuesday, saying they were not helpful to regional stability, and urged Moscow to reconsider.
Russia's defense minister flatly dismissed the U.S. demands.
Moscow-based defense analyst Pavel Felgenhauer said that Russia, which has sold anti-aircraft missiles to Syria and Iran in defiance of U.S. criticism, saw Venezuela as a lucrative partner.
"Chavez wants to thumb his nose at the U.S. and the Russians are delighted to get his money," he said.
The Venezuelan arms deals are one of the many irritants in US-Russian relations that have chilled markedly in recent years amid U.S. criticism of Putin as backsliding on democratic reforms and using Russia's oil and gas reserves as instruments of political pressure.
However, Washington has shown little inclination to confront Russia with anything more than harsh statements.
Chavez, a leftist former army lieutenant colonel who has frequently warned that the United States could invade, is on an international tour that will take him onto Iran, Qatar and Vietnam.
On his way to Russia, the Venezuelan leader visited neighboring Belarus, where he met with authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is dubbed "Europe's last dictator" in Washington and shares Chavez's strong anti-U.S. views.
What the hell is their problem? says Coolwhip from the United States.
Neither Chavez nor Russian leader Vladimir Putin gave details about any new deals signed Thursday, but Russia's defense minister said last week that Moscow had agreed to sell the oil-rich South American nation about 30 Su-30 fighter jets and some 30 military helicopters.
Putin said Thursday that Moscow and Caracas would prove "reliable partners" and -- in comments clearly aimed at Washington -- said their cooperation should not be viewed as being "aimed against any third country."
The head of Russia's state arms-trading agency, Sergei Chemezov, said Venezuela over the last 18 months had signed contracts for arms purchases including 24 military planes and 53 helicopters for more than $3 billion, the Interfax news agency reported.
The helicopter and fighter plane deal announced last week by Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will cost Caracas $1 billion.
Chavez, who has become an increasing thorn in Washington's side because of his anti-U.S policies, is also hoping to set up Kalashnikov weapons and ammunition plants in Venezuela.
The Venezuelan leader spoke Thursday of the "astonishing progress in military-technical cooperation" -- a euphemism for arms sales -- and repeated his thanks to Putin for supplying Caracas with weaponry.
In opening remarks at his Kremlin meeting, Chavez said the fighter jets were critical because it was unable to purchase replacement parts for its aging fleet of U.S.-made F-16s.
The United States in May announced a ban on U.S. arms sales to Venezuela.
"We would like to thank you for delivering us from a blockade," Chavez said. "We were almost disarmed."
He also thanked Russia for supporting Venezuela's push for a non-permanent U.N. Security Council seat -- which the U.S. government is lobbying to block.
Chavez has used surging oil revenues to modernize Venezuela's military, signing multibillion defense deals with Russia and Spain. Venezuela also has agreed to buy 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles.
The United States underlined its opposition to the arms sales Tuesday, saying they were not helpful to regional stability, and urged Moscow to reconsider.
Russia's defense minister flatly dismissed the U.S. demands.
Moscow-based defense analyst Pavel Felgenhauer said that Russia, which has sold anti-aircraft missiles to Syria and Iran in defiance of U.S. criticism, saw Venezuela as a lucrative partner.
"Chavez wants to thumb his nose at the U.S. and the Russians are delighted to get his money," he said.
The Venezuelan arms deals are one of the many irritants in US-Russian relations that have chilled markedly in recent years amid U.S. criticism of Putin as backsliding on democratic reforms and using Russia's oil and gas reserves as instruments of political pressure.
However, Washington has shown little inclination to confront Russia with anything more than harsh statements.
Chavez, a leftist former army lieutenant colonel who has frequently warned that the United States could invade, is on an international tour that will take him onto Iran, Qatar and Vietnam.
On his way to Russia, the Venezuelan leader visited neighboring Belarus, where he met with authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is dubbed "Europe's last dictator" in Washington and shares Chavez's strong anti-U.S. views.
What the hell is their problem? says Coolwhip from the United States.