Foreign Policy

Spain to sell military planes, boats, to Venezuela

November 29, 2005 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

When CAFTA was approved I do not think this was the intention. America has been lucky in that it has been surrounded by allies for the majority of its existence. However, times are changing and so is the landscape America finds itself in.

America spends so much time protecting countries half way around the world it has had very little thought about ever again having an enemy at her gates. However, with all of the support and free trade agreements being handed out to smaller countries, we can expect more and more of this type of potential confrontation in our hemisphere.

Many are not aware that our neighbor in Central America, Brazil, pursued a covert nuclear weapons program years ago in response to Argentina’s program. Brazil admitted recently to having developed a modest nuclear power program, enrichment facilities, reprocessing capability, a missile program, a uranium mining and processing industry, and fuel fabrication facilities. Brazil abandoned the program but felt it was close to being able to produce a nuclear bomb. Brazil wanted to make sure that no other country could ever impose its will on Brazilians.

Spain and Venezuela united in defying Washington on Monday, signing several agreements that allow Venezuela President Hugo Chávez’s government to receive a substantial amount of military equipment from Spain. The U.S. ambassador to Madrid, Eduardo Aguirre, advised Spain of Washington’s opposition to the deal, many in the U.S. government have stated that this could be construed as a destabilizing factor in the Central American region.

Because the Spanish aircraft involved in the deal utilize U.S. technology in their communications and radar equipment, the United States has the option to attempt to veto the deal. However, both sides involved in the deal say they will just swap out whatever American parts are concerned.

The deal is said to be worth about $2 billion, it is believed to be the most valuable ever obtained by the Spanish defense industry. The arms sales include 12 naval transport and reconnaissance aircraft and eight patrol vessels.
This is an addition to the deal Valenzuela made with Russia to purchase from Russia 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and a dozen military helicopters.

Upon hearing news of the American issue President Chávez stated that he feels the Bush administration is an imperialistic government set on imposing their will on another free country. He also praised Spain’s stating they had a ”majestic dignity” in resisting U.S. pressure. Chávez has repeatedly chastised Bush in public, often referring to him as a genocidal murderer and a madman. He has the United States government of planning to invade Venezuela and overthrow his government by any means; he went as far as to accuse the current administration of seeking his assassination.

President Chavez, on television in Valenzuela, stated attempts by Washington to disrupt the deal was an example of how the United States is trying to impose its will over the world. President Chavez stated that the military equipment will be utilized for peaceful means and domestic issues. Chavez has advised that that the boats will be used in his countries fight against the drug trade in and around his country, and the transport planes are to be utilized for humanitarian missions in the region.
Spain to sell military planes, boats to Venezuela

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