During a ceremony at Ayacucho Hall, Miraflores presidential palace, the Venezuelan and Spanish government executed an agreement to buy 12 planes and eight patrol boats for the Venezuelan army.

President Hugo Chávez, Defense Minister Orlando Maniglia, and Spanish Minister José Bono headed the ceremony.

Based on the agreements signed Monday, Venezuela will get 10 military planes for transportation and two aircrafts for maritime patrolling, as well as a total of eight patrol boats, including four for coastal surveillance and four for ocean patrolling across the exclusive economic zone.

The Spanish Defense Minister favored the operation and claimed that the units would not be used for military offensive.