Chavez says Venezuela will purchase tanks, citing threat from Colombia

September 13th, 2009 Venezuela gets $2.2B in credit for Russian armsCARACAS, Venezuela — Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit for Venezuela to purchase weapons including armored vehicles and surface-to-air missiles, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday. Venezuela is buying more arms because it feels threatened by Colombia's decision to give U.S.

August 26th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela ready to sever ties to ColombiaCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday that Venezuela is getting ready to break off diplomatic relations with Colombia over the neighboring country's plan to give American troops greater access to its military bases. Chavez said that "there's no possibility" of repairing relations with the government of President Alvaro Uribe and that he instructed his foreign minister to "begin preparing for the rupture with Colombia." "It's going to happen.

August 18th, 2009 CARACAS - The purchase of Russian tanks will be among the several agreements to be signed between Moscow and Caracas during the visit of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez in September, according to media reports. Local media reports quoted Chavez as saying Monday that the purchase of the tanks was part of a modernisation plan for the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela.

August 16th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to strengthen ties with alliesCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says Venezuela's ties with nations like Russia and China have gained importance as the U.S. moves to expand its military presence in Latin America.

August 10th, 2009 Chavez urges military to be prepared for conflictCARACAS, Venezuela —President Hugo Chavez told his military to be prepared for a possible confrontation with Colombia, warning that Bogota's plans to increase the U.S. military presence at its bases poses a threat to Venezuela.

August 7th, 2009 Ex-president urges end to Colombia-Venezuela fightCARACAS, Venezuela — A former Colombian president sought to ease tensions between Caracas and Bogota on Thursday, but Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez said relations will remain rocky if the neighboring nation gives U.S. troops access to its bases.

August 6th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to buy more tanks over US threatCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez said Wednesday his government will buy dozens of Russian tanks because Venezuela feels threatened by a pending deal for the U.S. military to increase its presence in neighboring Colombia.

July 30th, 2009 Venezuela: Colombia trying to justify interventionCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez's government on Thursday accused Colombian authorities of trying to justify an intervention in Venezuela with its allegations that anti-tank weapons found in a rebel arms cache originated here. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it will respond firmly to "every aggression from the Colombian government with very firm measures," as tensions between the neighboring nations rise over the allegations.

July 30th, 2009 CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has frozen diplomatic and trade relations with Colombia in a spat over Colombian allegations that Swedish anti-tank weapons sold to Venezuela turned up in the hands of leftist guerrillas. Citing Bogota's "irresponsible" accusations, Chavez Tuesday Wednesday recalled the ambassador to Colombia, Gustavo Marquez, and froze bilateral "diplomatic and trade relations.

July 30th, 2009 OAS chief: Diplomacy needed to resolve spatCARACAS, Venezuela — The head of the Organization of American States urged Venezuela on Wednesday not to break off diplomatic relations with Colombia or take other drastic steps amid escalating tensions between the two South American neighbors. OAS chief Jose Miguel Insulza said he was concerned by President Hugo Chavez's decision Tuesday to recall the Venezuelan ambassador from Bogota over Colombia's statement that anti-tank weapons found in a rebel arms cache came from Venezuela.

July 29th, 2009 Chavez recalls Venezuela's envoy to ColombiaCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez recalled Venezuela's ambassador to Colombia and froze diplomatic relations with the neighboring country Tuesday to protest Bogota's suggestions that weapons found in a rebel arms cache could have come from Venezuela. Chavez accused the government of President Alvaro Uribe of acting "irresponsibly," saying there is no evidence the Swedish-made anti-tank rocket launchers that Colombia says its military seized came from Venezuela.

July 24th, 2009 Venezuela upset by pending US-Colombia pactCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says Colombia should not underestimate Venezuela's concerns over the neighboring country's decision to forge stronger military ties with the United States. From Venezuela's point of view, Chavez said Thursday, it's like "opening your house for your neighbor's enemy." Colombian officials have said Venezuela should not be concerned by a pact being negotiated to let U.S.

July 21st, 2009 Chavez objects to Colombia's base deal with USCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is objecting to Colombia's decision to let the United States increase its military presence in the neighboring country. Chavez said Tuesday that Colombia's plan to accommodate more U.S.

June 28th, 2009 Chavez to US general: You're the threat, not usCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says a U.S. general shouldn't be raising concerns that Venezuela is buying arms, and the American commander is wrong to argue there isn't a "conventional military threat in the region." Chavez says the U.S.

May 4th, 2009 CARACAS - A Venezuelan military helicopter crashed near the country's border with Colombia killing 18 soldiers, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday. One general, 16 soldiers and one civilian died in the crash, Chavez said on Alo Presidente (Hello President), his weekly broadcast to the nation.