Chavez buys dozens of Russian tanks to counter 'US threat' in Colombia

Published on Thursday 6 August 2009 22:03

PRESIDENT Hugo Chavez said his government will buy dozens of Russian tanks because Venezuela feels threatened by a pending deal for the US military to increase its presence in neighbouring Colombia.

Mr Chavez announced the plan while condemning Colombia's negotiations on an agreement to let US forces use at least seven of its military bases.

"We're going to buy several battalions of Russian tanks," he said, adding that the deal is among accords he hopes to conclude during a visit to Russia in September.

Mr Chavez's government has already bought more than $4 billion (2.35bn) worth of Russian arms since 2005, including helicopters, fighter jets and Kalashnikov assault rifles.

The socialist leader called Colombia's plan to host more US soldiers a hostile act and a "true threat" to Venezuela and its leftist allies.

He warned that a possible US build-up could lead to the "start of a war in South America", but gave no indication that his country's military is mobilising in preparation for any conflict.

Mr Chavez is seeking to pressurise Colombia to turn back on its base plan. He threatened to cut back on imports from Colombia, an important source of goods from milk to chicken, and replace them with purchases from Argentina and Brazil.

Trade between Venezuela and Colombia reached $7.2bn last year. Mr Chavez noted there had been plans to import 10,000 cars from Colombia, but said that due to the impasse that figure would become "zero".

With tensions heightening over Colombia's plan to bring in more US troops to help with his fight against drug trafficking, Colombian president Alvaro Uribe set out on a regional tour this week to defend his plans.

"How many lies would he be telling today?" Mr Chavez gibed as Mr Uribe visited Chile.

He called the Colombian leader a "puppet" of the United States.

Mr Chavez also expressed frustration with US president Barack Obama over the deal being negotiated with Colombia. He said the Obama he saw in Trinidad and Tobago earlier this year, when they shook hands and pledged better relations, "is disappearing".

Colombian officials say they hope talks next week will produce an agreement that will give US forces greater access to bases in Colombia. The ten-year lease agreement would not boost the presence of American troops and civilian military contractors above the 1,400 currently permitted by US law, the Colombians say.

Mr Chavez also dismissed Mr Uribe's complaints about anti-tank rocket launchers that were sold to Venezuela in the 1980s and ended up in the hands of leftist rebels in Colombia, calling the accusations "trash" and saying they were timed to "blackmail" his government while trying to bring in more US troops.

Mr Chavez withdrew his ambassador to Colombia last week and threatened to sever diplomatic ties completely after Mr Uribe raised the issue.

Mr Chavez held two similar bazooka-like weapons at the news conference, saying he believes based on photos provided by Colombia that the launchers seized had already been discharged and were empty tubes.

Colombian officials said the AT-4 launchers had not been fired and rockets were found with them.