Colombia Seeks Russian Arms to Match Venezuela, Kommersant Says [View All]

Source: Bloomberg

Colombia Seeks Russian Arms to Match Venezuela, Kommersant Says

By Bradley Cook

May 27 (Bloomberg) -- Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos will visit Moscow next month to express concern about Russian arms sales to Venezuela and hold talks on buying similar weapons as a countermeasure, Kommersant reported.

Santos will use his 10-day visit, the first by a Colombian of his rank, to try to convince Russia to curtail arms shipments to President Hugo Chavez's Venezuela, which Colombia accuses of arming FARC rebels, the Moscow-based newspaper said, citing an interview with the vice president.

Venezuela in the last three years has bought Russian fighter jets, attack helicopters and air defense systems, as well as 100,000 machineguns, some of which may have gone to the rebels, Kommersant said. Colombia is interested in acquiring fighter jets, transport helicopters, armored vehicles, air-traffic control systems and night-vision equipment, the newspaper said.



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