Colombia decides not to buy tanks from Spain

[bemildred]

BOGOTA, Colombia, July 16 (Reuters) -
Colombia has canceled an order to buy battle
tanks from Spain due to concern in
neighboring Venezuela and the change of
Spanish government, a Colombian official
said on Friday.

Colombia's deal to buy 46 second-hand
AMX-30 tanks and 20 artillery pieces for $6
million, agreed earlier this year when Jose
Maria Aznar was still Spain's prime minister,
had annoyed the Venezuelan government,
which fretted the French-made tanks could
be stationed on its border.

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe's decision
not to go ahead with the purchase was also
due to the reluctance of the new socialist
Spanish government of Jose Luis Rodriguez
Zapatero to follow through with the deal, the
official said.

"Because of international politics, President
Uribe decided to suspend the contract," he
said, asking not to be named.

more

[acmavm]

1. Maybe Spain thinks it might not be such a good thing to give the

CIA so many toys to play with.

And maybe the Columbians expect the Americans (there are discussions about sending troops to Columbia) to bring their own tanks and save them some money.

Whatever the reason, sounds like a wise decision to me.

[bemildred]

2. Aznar's defeat is having ramifications in Latin America,

in Venezuelan-Colombian relations. On the evidence, one would
have to say not having Spain to work with has weakened Uncle
Sugar's hand a good deal.