At the October 2-4 gathering, Rumsfeld accused the Chávez administration of becoming a “destabilizing force” in the region and that other governments in the region shared his “concern.”

Gen. Bantz Craddock, commander of the U.S. military for Latin America, condemned Caracas for the “increase in Venezuela’s purchase of weapons, especially small arms,” the New York Times reported October 3.

Rumsfeld alleged that neighboring governments are “concerned that the weapons purchased by Venezuela will end up in the hands of terrorist groups,” Nicaragua’s daily La Prensa reported.

Chávez told the press here in the Venezuelan capital October 4 that the weapons over which Washington is making an issue are “eminently defensive” in character, and that their purchase is within the country’s sovereign rights.

In recent months the government of Venezuela has bought military equipment and small weapons from Russia, including 24 fighter jets and 53 military helicopters, and signed a contract to buy 100,000 Kalashnikov AK-103 automatic rifles. As part of the deal, Moscow also agreed to build a factory in Venezuela to produce the bulk of these rifles.

The Chávez administration has sought new suppliers for the country’s armed forces since Washington imposed a ban in May on arms sales. Until then, most of the weapons for the Venezuelan military came from the United States.

“We have replaced equipment that was more than 50 years old and made purchases to replace systems we can no longer use because they have been vetoed,” said Venezuelan defense minister Raúl Baduel, according to the Venezuelan daily El Nacional.

“All of our purchases have been of a defensive character,” said Baduel, speaking to Colombian radio stations October 4. While Venezuelan government officials hope a day will come when “swords can be turned into plowshares” he said, they know “it is also true, if you look at the world situation, there are countries that act as if they have the right to intervene anywhere in the world,” alluding to Washington. Caracas also announced plans to purchase anti-aircraft missiles and long-range radars from China next year.
 
 
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