In the most recent manifestation of the rift between Washington and Caracas, United States officials reiterated their objection to a Spanish defense contractor's planned sale of at least 10 military transportation aircraft and 8 patrol boats to Venezuela.
"We have not decided yet whether or not to grant our permission for obtaining that technology," the US ambassador to Spain, Eduardo Aguirre, said yesterday in Madrid, according to the Los Angeles Times. "We hope in the end that the transaction will not be carried out."
Because the equipment contains U.S. parts, the U.S. can veto the sale of the boats and aircraft. Venezuela and Spain have suggested they may change the U.S. technology to European components in order to proceed with the deal. However, according to unnamed sources in the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the added cost would make the deal unprofitable. According to Venezuela's ambassador to Spain, Arevalo Mendez Romero, because of available European technology, a U.S. veto "is of no concern."
