Hugo Chavez has expressed his thanks to the Spanish authorities and "the whole of Spain" for "their firm stand" against US pressure to prevent Venezuela from buying military equipment to be used in the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking. Speaking on his weekly "Aló, presidente!" radio and TV show, Mr Chavez said:

"You know how the American empire has publicly, and I imagine in private as well, put pressure on the Spanish government. I want to thank Head of State and commander of the Armed Forces, King Juan Carlos de Borbón, the president of the Spanish government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Defence minister, José "Pepe" Bono, and the whole of Spain for standing firm against a lack of respect on behalf of the imperialist USA government. The USA now does not even want us to buy some patrol boats to protect our coastline, and some transport planes for our Air Force and Navy."

Mr Chavez also paid tribute to his Defence minister, Orlando Maniglia, "for having completed the negotiation process so rapidly and precisely." 

Bono sent to Venezuela to seal arms deal
Saturday, November 26, 2005

Defence minister José Bono will travel to Caracas next week to sign an arms deal with Hugo Chavez's Venezuelan government worth USD 1,560 million, despite opposition from the US government.

During a press conference yesterday following the regular weekly cabinet meeting, government first vice-president, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, confirmed that Spain will be supplying four patrol boats, four corvettes, ten C-295 transport planes and two coastal spotter planes, following an announcement made earlier this week by the Venezuelan president.

The US ambassador in Madrid, Eduardo Aguirre, said this week that Washington was still deciding whether or not to allow Spain to sell planes equipped with American technology. Between 50-60% of the components are made in the USA, which means an export licence from that country is required.

President Chavez, who is an ally of the Cuban government, and whose government has substantially increased military expenditure this year, has accused the US government of attempting to block the deal.

Ms de la Vega said yesterday that the contract was part of a broad commercial agreement, which is worded with "scrupulous respect to international law," that will provide jobs for Spanish workers.

The photo shows Mr Chavez wearing a Mexican hat and singing a Mexican ballad (corrido) during a demonstration in Caracas on the 19th November against the presidents of the USA and Mexico, George W. Bush and Vicente Fox, respectively.