Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Spanish Defense Minister Jose Bono signed an arms deal on Monday. Spain’s largest-ever defense deal includes the sale of 10 C-295 transport planes, two CN-235 patrol planes, four ocean patrol boats and four costal patrol vessels to Venezuela.Both Bono and Chavez insist that the equipment would be used for peaceful purposes.
Chavez said to BBC News that the boats would be used to step up Venezuela’s coastal patrols against the drug trade and that the transport planes would be used for humanitarian missions inside and outside of the country.
“I haven’t been able to find any evidence that there is a pact between Spain and Venezuela that limits these military resources to peaceful purposes,” said Kyle Dell, Assistant Professor of Political Science.
“Once this equipment becomes the property of Venezuela, the equipment could be used for whatever purpose the dictator of Venezuela wishes. I have no reason to believe the equipment will be used for peaceful purposes since I do not believe that the dictator of Venezuela is a man of peace.”
The arms deal is responsible for the increased tension between the U.S. and Venezuela.
Eduardo Aguirre, U.S. ambassador to Spain, said to The Washington Post that the U.S. still had to decide whether it would block the deal, since the Spanish planes carry U.S. technology.
“We have not yet decided on the matter,” said Aguirre. “In the long run, we hope that sale won’t go ahead.”
According to CNN, U.S. officials confirmed that the aircraft Spain is selling to Venezuela have about 50 percent U.S. components and require a U.S. export license.
According to Venezuelan Navy Vice Admiral Armando Laguna, the equipment would be delivered within seven years. This would then give them time to replace the U.S. parts with parts from Europe.
“We’ll change the equipment if their export isn’t approved or if they don’t grant the export license,” said Laguna to The Washington Post.
U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormick said to The Washington Post, “We are currently looking at technology licensing issues. There hasn’t been any final conclusion on that question yet.”
Chavez is not happy with the U.S. interference.
“Venezuela was a colony of the U.S. for a long time,” said Chavez, according to CNN. “Today we’re free, and the world should know it. We in Venezuela don’t have to be giving any explanation, much less under imperialist pressure.”
Bono also expressed the fact that he feels the arms deal should not concern the U.S.
“Is there some rule that prohibits this sale? There is no international embargo,” said Bono to CNN.
Washington has also voiced its concerns about a purchase made by Venezuela that includes 100,000 Kalashnikov assault riffles from Russia. The first 30,000 are due to arrive this month.
“The dictator of Venezuela is a danger to the people of Venezuela and all people who value peace, democracy and liberty in the world,” said Dell.
“All countries of the world possess arms. However, such arms dealing by a proven dictator cannot but further separate him from the community of nations around the world.”
According to BBC News, U.S. officials say they are worried that some of these new Venezuelan weapons could fall into the hands of the Marxist Colombian rebels that Washington calls terrorists.