Colombia's defense minister, in a confidential statement to the Senate, said Venezuela's planned arms purchases appear to be unjustified and create a "military imbalance" in the Andean region.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a leftist populist, has arranged to buy 100,000 assault rifles and 10 helicopters from Russia and patrol boats and military transport planes from Spain, moves that have already drawn criticism from U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe, in written responses labeled "secret" to questions by Colombian senators, criticized the purchases. A senator's office provided a copy of the responses to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
"It's an undeniable fact that Venezuela's military buildup deepens the military imbalance in the Andean region," Defense Minister Jorge Alberto Uribe wrote.
"There is no clear justification at the moment to acquire certain types of these strategic arms," Uribe added.
The criticisms emerged as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is making a Latin America trip. Rice - who visits Colombia on Wednesday - said she will talk with hemispheric leaders about Venezuela's commitment to democracy and its relations with other nations of the region. She is not stopping over in Venezuela during her four-nation trip.
Several Colombian senators have criticized the arms purchases by the government in neighboring Venezuela.
"The weapons Venezuela is acquiring are offensive, not defensive," said Sen. Jimmy Chamorro. "This really worries us."
Relations between Colombia and Venezuela have been soured over the alleged presence of leftist Colombian rebels on Venezuelan territory. Chavez has denied his government harbors the rebels and said any guerrillas present in Colombia would be considered enemies of his government. |