The Colombian government Tuesday rejected any possibility to engage in an arms race with Venezuela, in spite of the recent procurement of ships, planes, helicopters and guns by the Venezuelan government.

"It would be a huge mistake to embark upon an arms race," said the Colombian Minister of Defense Jorge Alberto Uribe at a hearing of the Senate's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

In this regard, he underscored that the Colombian government uses its economic resources to fight local irregular armed groups and meet the social needs of the people.