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11/30/2005:

"Spain agrees £1.2bn defence deal with Chavez"

Spain agreed to sell 12 military planes and eight patrol boats to Venezuela yesterday in its largest ever defence deal, worth $2bn (£1.2bn).

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez criticised Washington for trying to hold up the sale. "Venezuela was a colony of the US empire for a long time. Today we're free, and the world should know it," Mr Chavez said.

He appeared to be speaking figuratively; Spain ruled Venezuela's territory until the early 19th century. Mr Chavez has said the vessels and planes will be used to combat the drug trade in Venezuela, which borders Colombia, the world's top cocaine producer.
guardian.co.uk