The Militant (logo) 
    Vol. 70/No. 5           February 6, 2006 
 
 
U.S. government tries to block
Spanish aircraft sale to Venezuela

Calling the Venezuelan government headed by President Hugo Chávez “autocratic and antidemocratic,” the U.S. government barred Spain January 13 from completing a $2 billion deal to sell 12 airplanes and eight patrol boats to the South American nation. The C-295 and CN-235 transport planes (pictured above) Venezuela ordered are produced by the Spanish company EADS CASA, but contain U.S. technology and so require a U.S. export license. The Spanish government said it would move ahead with the deal after acquiring the necessary technology elsewhere.

U.S. officials have moved to block a number of defense purchases by Caracas, including pressuring the Israeli regime last October to back out of a deal to upgrade Venezuela’s fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets. A similar move to quash a $120 million deal with the Brazilian government to sell its Super Tucano aircraft is anticipated in the weeks ahead. They, too, contain U.S. components.

—PAUL PEDERSON

Related articles:
World Social Forum opens in Caracas  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home