US Military Bases Affect Colombia-Venezuela
Ties
Caracas - Relations between Colombia and Venezuela are
going through diffculties after Bogota
decided to open four US military bases.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who had
previously announced a review of the
relations with Colombia, asserted that it
was a non-friendly move by that country and
ordered to tighten security at the common
border.
Chavez said on Thursday they would seek to
replace in friendly countries, as Brazil or
Ecuador, the imports from Colombia, a
country with which trade exceeds $7 billion
a year.
The Venezuelan government also announced
that faced with the threat of US troops in
its left flank, it would double its armored
vehicle forces, reinforce infantry,
artillery, the navy and aviation, and step
up strategic vigilance.
In this reference, he said that talks with
Russia had already began, to buy new
military equipment that allow continuing
strengthening the country's military power,
something reported to the Russian
authorities by Venezuelan Vice president
Ramon Carrizales.
As a response to the US refusal to sell
spare parts and carry out capital
maintenance to F-16 aircrafts, Venezuela
bought 24 Sukhoi fighter-bombers from Russia
in 2008.
The South American country also bought a 50
helicopter fleet and 100,000 Russian
Kalashnikov rifles, and announced plans to
build factories of ammunitions for the
purchased weapons.
Simultaneously, Chavez announced
establishment of military units and
reinforcement of those existing, to have
combat troops ready to respond to any
aggression.
The Venezuelan president reiterated that his
country does not want a war, but he
clarified that his nation is forced to
defend itself from constant US threats.
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