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U.S. government tries to block Spanish aircraft sale to Venezuela |
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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: |