US is concerned about Russian arms in Venezuela

The US State Department is worried about Russian –Venezuelan arm deal, which says 20 Russian air-defense systems, 12 military transport planes and 24 fighter jets go to South America. The US government says Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez does not truly need the weapons and has high ambitions that “go beyond his country’s defensive needs”. The State Department spokesman, Gonzalo Gallegos, said: “We’ve repeatedly communicated concerns with Russia about Chavez’s arms build-up in the past, and we’re going to continue to do so.” The deal, which was finalized in Moscow between Hugo Chavez and the Russian President, includes sales of 20 air-defense systems, 12 military transport planes and 24 fighter jets and it is worth 2 billion dollars. Chavez has recently tried to build stronger ties with Russia against “US plots to invade Venezuela”.