Venezuela unwilling to talk arms purchases with US
Venezuela will not discuss its recent purchase of 12 aircraft and eight boats with the U.S. government, the country's Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said in a statement on Thursday.

"That is something we will discuss with Spain, not the U.S.," he said, reacting to statements by U.S. Ambassador to Caracas William Brownfield, who argued that Venezuela should have dialogue with his government about the deal signed between Spain and Venezuela.

Earlier on Thursday, Brownfield had reiterated concerns of the U.S. State Department that the sales should be approved by the U.S. government because the planes and boats carry U.S. parts and technology.

In the same interview, Brownfield requested that Venezuela tonedown its anti-US rhetoric, asking Venezuelan leaders to stop calling the United States an "assassin," a "terrorist" or "Mr. Danger."

Venezuela signed a deal with two Spanish firms at the end of November to buy 10 transport planes, two sea surveillance planes, four coastal patrol boats and four corvettes, which has drawn a flurry of U.S. statements vowing to block the deal.