Spain-Venezuela arms deal nears

[cal04]

Spanish Defence Minister Jose Bono is travelling to Venezuela to oversee the signing of an arms contract that is opposed by the US.
Madrid has agreed to sell military patrol boats and transport planes to Caracas in deal worth more than $1.5bn.

The two countries insist the equipment is for peaceful purposes, such as to help in the fight against drug gangs. But the US regards Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as a destabilising influence in the region. US ambassador Eduardo Aguirre had asked the Spanish authorities not to go ahead with the sale. He said Washington was considering whether to allow Spain to sell aircraft made with US technology, which would require a US export licence.

Growing tension
Spain's Deputy Prime Minister, Teresa Fernandez de La Vega, confirmed Mr Bono's visit to Caracas. But she insisted the deal had been negotiated with "scrupulous respect for international law". Mr Chavez said the contracts would be signed on Monday, according to the Spanish newspaper ABC's website. The arms deal was agreed during Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's a two-day visit to Venezuela last March.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4472342.stm


from Spain's paper,translated
confirmation of the government Bond will travel to Venezuela to attend the firm of the contract for the sale of military material EFE/MADRID. The vicepresidenta first of the Government, María Teresa Fernández of the fertile plain, has confirmed that the minister of Defense, José Bond, will travel to Venezuela to attend "in name" of the Executive to the firm of the contract for the sale of military material agreed with Spain. In the press conference after the meeting of the Cabinet, Fernández of the fertile plain, recalled that the Government subscribed a covenant with Venezuela for the sale of this material and emphasized that "was carried out under the most scrupulous respect to the international legality".
http://www.abc.es/abc/pg051125/actualidad/nacional/nacional/200511/25/bono_viaje_venezuela.asp

[tocqueville]

1. they are probably planning to retake all what the Spanish

lost during the American-Spanish War.... maybe even Texas.... lol

[oblivious]

2. As if business isn't already bad enough for the US. Now go after licensing

He said Washington was considering whether to allow Spain to sell aircraft made with US technology, which would require a US export licence.

Who's gonna bother making a licensing deal with US companies if they might have to endure restrictions based on petty rivalries the US govt gets involved in. It was one thing when US technology was the only one available, but that's not always the case now.

[tocqueville]

3. Very true, a lot of the Spanish Air Force is European made

But I don't think they are going to sell any F18 Hornets. They produce a lot of own aircrafts, among them Eurofighters which are superior to the Hornet.

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/spain/spanaf4.htm

what I understand they were going to sell transportation planes.

[peacetalksforall]

4. Can you believe this? PNAC WORLD is considering whether to allow....

...(snipped):
"He said Washington was considering whether to allow Spain to sell aircraft made with US technology, which would require a US export licence.

Growing tension
Spain's Deputy Prime Minister, Teresa Fernandez de La Vega, confirmed Mr Bono's visit to Caracas. But she insisted the deal had been negotiated with "scrupulous respect for international law".

Spain claims they are negotiating with Venezuela with SCRUPULOUS regard for the law.

Who're you going to believe? PNAC WORLD or Spain?

Given that Spain would probably NOT disregard the law, can you believe the pomposity, arrogance, and territorial puffing and threats?

[Ouabache]

5. I'm surprised Spain wouldn't just call International licensing agreements

'quaint' relics of the pre-PNAC era. Wouldn't be any different than Bushco calling the UN quaint, etc.