Western Hemisphere
September 14

Chávez gets USD 2.2 billion loan to buy Russian weapons
Venezuela was granted a USD 2.2 billion credit from Russia to purchase weapons, announced on Sunday President Hugo Chávez, during his weekly radio and TV show Aló Presidente (339th) broadcast from the Ayacucho Hall of the Palace of Miraflores, the official seat of Venezuela's Presidency.

"Thanks to the support of the Russian President (Dmitry Medvedev) and the Prime Minister (Vladimir Putin), the purchase of arms aimed at boosting our defense capabilities has become viable," said Chávez. He added that his government has no plans to invade or attack any country.

The defense arsenal to be purchased by Caracas includes vehicle-mounted Russian Antey 2500 surface-to-air missile systems, Russian-made Buk M2 and Pechora air defense systems, 300-millimeter Smerch multiple launch rocket anti-aircraft systems as well as 92 Soviet-era T-72 battle tanks.

The Head of State said that the government must ensure that the Bolivarian Armed Forces are well equipped, because Venezuela has vast energy deposits and the "Yankee Empire" is interested in controlling them.

US concerned about Venezuela's weapons purchases to Russia
The United States is concerned about Venezuela's weapons purchases announced by President Hugo Chávez and the ties between Tehran and Caracas, State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters.

"Yes, in short we are concerned. We have concerns in general about Venezuela's stated desire to increase its arms build-up, which we think poses a serious challenge to stability in the Western Hemisphere," Kelly said at a news conference.

"We urge Venezuela to be transparent in its purchases, and very clear about the purposes of these purchases," Kelly said at the daily press briefing. "And we're also very concerned that they put in place very clear procedures and safeguards that these arms are not diverted to any irregular or illegal organizations," he added.

September 15

Venezuela's anti-aircraft system to have one of the most effective missiles
Venezuela's anti-air system will include three Russian anti-aircraft weapons, which were purchased by President Hugo Chávez during his recent trip to Moscow. Venezuelan armed forces will also have the French Mistral system along with the newly acquired Igla-S and RBS-70 Russian-made portable launchers.

Although some experts believe that the vehicle-mounted Russian Antey 2500 surface-to-air missile system, the Russian-made Buk M2 and Pechora air defense systems, and the 300-millimeter Smerch multiple launch rocket system purchased by the Venezuelan government have overlapping functions, President Hugo Chávez said that the systems are "complementary, because they are long-range, medium-range and even short-range systems," so they can detect and hit targets located at different distances and heights.

The 300-millimeter Smerch and Antey-2500 anti-aircraft system is considered one of the most effective in the world, since it is able to track several targets simultaneously. It has the longest range among the anti-air systems purchased by the Venezuelan government.

Colombia asks Unasur to discuss weapons purchases to third countries
Colombia highlighted that it is important that the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) discusses at the meeting that began on Tuesday, September 15 the purchase of weapons by some member countries and other cooperation agreements with third parties to restore eroded confidence in the region.

Colombia made this request at a time when Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador are negotiating the purchase of weapons and aircrafts with countries like Russia, France and China, Reuters reported.

"It is very important that we discuss in a comprehensive and detailed way the purchases of weapons to third countries, as well as the guarantees and trust mechanisms on this issue," said Colombia Foreign Minister Jaime Bermúdez.

Colombia's top diplomat spoke on the sidelines of the meeting of Unasur's Foreign and Defense ministers, which was held in Quito.

Hillary Clinton asks for transparency in arms purchases
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed concern on Tuesday about what she described as the growing number of arms purchases by Venezuela and the potential for an arms race in the region.

"We have expressed our concerns about the magnitude of Venezuelan arms purchases. They outpace all other countries' in South America and certainly raise questions as to whether there is going to be an arms race in the region," Clinton told reporters during a press conference with Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez, Reuters reported.

FM Maduro suspects that Clinton's request is unsubstantiated
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's appeal to the Venezuelan government to be "transparent" as to the purchase of Russian arms "is politically and morally unsupported," said Venezuela's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro on Tuesday in Quito.

"We can say that these remarks are just politically and morally unfounded," Maduro told reporters when asked about Clinton's request from Washington, AFP reported.

Maduro said that precisely the United States has plans to deploy seven military bases in South America, making reference to an agreement entered into by Bogotá and Washington to fight against drug traffic and terrorism.

This is among the items in the agenda discussed by the Foreign and Defense Ministers from the member states of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) in Quito, where they are setting guidelines on security in the region

Venezuela complains of Colombia for denying information
The Venezuelan government accused Colombia on Tuesday of refusing to report on a military agreement with the United States and promised to disclose the particulars of its deal with Russia on arms purchase.

Both items have raised worldwide concern and are top in the agenda of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur).

According to Venezuela's Vice-President Ramón Carrizález, Bogotá's failure to report on the use of seven Colombian military bases by the United States is a matter of concern for the countries in the region and could put a damper on any agreements on transparency regarding security issues.

"We have seen neither big nor small letters and this, of course, raises concern about the true covenants of such agreement," said Carrizález during a break in the meeting of Defense and Foreign Ministers at Unasur.

September 16

US expects a "change in attitude" on arms purchases
Uruguayan President Tabaré Vázquez and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed on Tuesday, September 15 to express their concern about an arms race in Latin America, following recent and huge weapons purchases announced by Venezuela. "We think the arms race is already there; it is a fact," Vázquez said in a joint press conference, after his meeting with Clinton at the State Department.

"We are not only concerned about the arms race, but we reject it since it is quite inconvenient. The diversion of resources will not take us in a right direction," said President Vazquez. In his opinion, the money could be better used for development and fight against poverty.

One of the risks is that weapons could be diverted to insurgent groups or illegal organizations in the region, like drug trafficking gangs and other criminal cartels, warned the head of the US diplomacy.

Clinton said that her government is ready to raise the topic of Venezuelan arms purchases and its ties with Iran in some regional forums.

Meanwhile, Ian Kelly, the State Department spokesman, did not confirm whether Clinton sent a letter to the foreign ministers and defense ministers of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), held in Quito. "Clinton will raise the topic in bilateral and multilateral forums," he said.

I was forced to do it
Venezuela was forced to purchase Russian arms due to the presence of US troops in several military bases in Colombia, President Chávez said late on Monday, September 14. "We did not want to buy the weapons, but what else we could do if the Yankees (the United States) are deploying seven military bases there (in Colombia)?," he said.

Military and security issues divide members of Unasur
The ministers of Defense of the member countries of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) tried to reach a consensus to make more transparent their security policies, amid concerns over a possible arms race in the region and the dispute over a military agreement between Colombia and the United States.

The first obstacle came when Venezuela's Vice-President Ramón Carrizález, accused Colombia of refusing to report on an agreement with the United States related to the use of military bases, Reuters reported.

"We have seen neither big nor small letters and this, of course, raises concern about the true covenants of such agreement," said the Venezuelan Vice President.
"Colombia is willing to have a symmetric relation. We want everyone to offer guarantees, information and open its doors to all the issues we have raised," Gabriel Silva, the Colombian Defense Minister replied.

Colombia remained isolated for not giving an explanation, says Chávez
The Colombian government "remained totally isolated" at the Unasur for "refusing" to explain its neighbors the scope of a military deal with the United States, Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez said on Wednesday, September 16.

"Colombia refused to it; as requested during the meeting" of Defense and Foreign Ministers of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), held on Tuesday in Ecuador.

According to Chávez, Colombia was required to show the agreement including the details, but it did not do it, Efe reported.

Colombia ponders on staying in Unasur
The Colombian government hinted on Wednesday its potential withdrawal from the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) by alleging that member states do not have much sympathy for insecurity issues, such as drug traffic, terrorism and arms traffic.

Colombian Minister of Defense Gabriel Silva said that the Unasur meeting held on Tuesday in Quito was very strained and difficult, because some countries allied against Colombia to question a military cooperation agreement with the United States and ignored other sensitive issues for the regional security, Reuters quoted.

"It this impasse turns out to linger and we cannot see any concern about arms race, arms traffic, drug traffic, organized crime; if there is no sympathy for these issues which are of Colombians, then, we would be like the Stone Guest and would need to ascertain such possibility," Silva told Caracol radio.

Brazil: Venezuela is "buying in the world's arms supermarket"
Brazil is looking to boost its technical capacity with its military purchases and is not "a Venezuela, buying in the world's arms supermarket," Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said on Wednesday.

"We are not on a shopping spree. We are on a spree to boost national capacity," he told the Brazilian Congress, as quoted by AFP.

Jobim was responding to a question about the huge costs of Brazil's recent military deals with France.

So far, contracts to buy five French submarines and 50 helicopters worth a total of USD 12 billion have been signed. And Brazil has said it is poised to order 36 French fighter jets for another estimated at USD 4-7 billion.

Jobim's reference to Venezuela was in response to a question about the South American country's recent big defense buys from Russia.