Caracas – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday called the arrival of a shipment of 30,000 Russian assault rifles here “historic,” adding that it was “very probable” that within a few weeks newly-purchased Russian Sukhoi combat aircraft would be flying over Caracas.
Chavez said that his government’s recent purchases of rifles, helicopters and patrol boats from Russia and Spain “is not an arms race” but rather an effort by Caracas to “modernize” its armed forces.
The first shipment of 30,000 AK-103 rifles – out of a total of 100,000 bought from Moscow – arrived on Saturday at the Puerto Cabello naval base 140 kilometers (87 miles) northwest of the capital and was transported to the Maracay arsenal 120 kilometers (74 miles) west of Caracas.
The leftist populist leader announced that “it’s very probable that … (on) July 5,” during the traditional Independence Day military parade, “the Sukhoi 30 aircraft will be flying in the skies over Caracas,” but he gave no further details.
Chavez has said that he will buy “a sufficient quantity” of Sukhoi combat aircraft from Moscow, given the U.S. refusal to sell spare parts for Venezuela’s fleet of F-16 fighters acquired from Washington more than 20 years ago.
Defense Minister Adm. Orlando Maniglia said Saturday that Venezuela had received Russian offers to sell it Sukhoi 30 and 35 aircraft, but he did not mention whether any contract or agreement had been signed to allow the planes to operate or be displayed in the South American country.
Chavez announced his intention to buy the Russian fighters after Washington’s May 15 refusal to sell weapons to Venezuela because of the latter’s alleged lack of cooperation in the anti-terrorist fight.
Chavez said that the rifles were being purchased “to guarantee sovereignty and defense,” adding that Venezuela had no plans to “attack anyone but nobody should come and mess with us because we’re fully ready to defend the independence and sovereignty of the homeland.”
The rest of the AK-103s, which were bought for $54 million, will arrive in Venezuela in two shipments during the second half of August and of October, Maniglia said.
Venezuela also bought 10 military helicopters – specifically Mi-17s, Mi-26s and Mi-35s – from Russia in 2005 for $120 million. Three of the aircraft arrived in Venezuela in February.
In addition, Caracas last year agreed to buy 10 transport and maritime surveillance aircraft from the Spanish firm CASA and eight patrol boats from Spain’s Navantia shipyard for about $2.2 billion.
Washington has criticized the Venezuelan arms purchases from Russia and Spain, expressing its “concern” that some of the weapons would wind up in the hands of Colombian guerrillas.
The first shipment of rifles – along with 25 million rounds of ammunition – arrived Saturday at the Puerto Cabello naval base, where they were received by the vice president and defense minister.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said that the purchase of the Russian weapons was part of the government’s effort to “modernize” the country’s armed forces and said other countries “have nothing to worry about because Venezuela is not in an arms race.”
The AK-103 rifles will replace Belgian FAL assault rifles Venezuela acquired in the 1950s.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who regularly rails against U.S. foreign policy, described Washington’s negative reaction to the weapons purchases as “imperialist” and a demonstration that the United States wants to “disarm” Venezuela and then invade the country, the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter and the fourth-largest supplier of crude to the United States.
Venezuela has floated the possibility of selling the F-16s to a third country, a move that Washington has rejected.
Relations between Caracas and Washington have deteriorated steadily since Chavez, a former failed coup-plotter, first took office in early 1999 after being elected in a landslide.
