Venezuela To Stage Mass War Games

BBC: Venezuela to stage mass war games

4 June, 2005


Workers at Venezuela's state-run oil company are preparing to take part, along with up to 5,000 troops, in a large-scale military exercise. The civilian employees are due to be trained in the use of anti-aircraft and anti-tank rocket launchers, army chief Raul Baduel told a press conference.

General Baduel said the operation, which is due to take place next Thursday in the central and northern regions of the country, should not "be cause for any concern", according to Spain's EFE news agency. He added that the simulation would help plan a military reaction "ahead of the possibility that our country might find itself plunged into such a situation". The exercise will take place at the same time as military manoeuvres in the country's east, and will be followed by another non-conventional war simulation several days later, EFE reported.

Venezuela has recently bought helicopters and some 100,000 assault rifles from Russia as well as planes and boats from Spain. An estimated 90,000 reservists have been signed up by the Venezuelan army.


Hugo Chavez aims to have a two-million-strong reservist force

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MosNews: Russia to Deliver 30,000 Kalashnikovs and 3 Helicopters to Venezuela by Year-End

11.11.2005


Russia will deliver 30,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and three helicopters to Venezuela by the year’s end as part of a wider arms deal and cooperation, Russian and Venezuelan officials said

15,000 rifles will arrive to the Latin American country on Dec. 15, with as many to follow on Dec. 30, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov said after talks in Caracas on Thursday, Nov. 10. Three helicopters bought from Russia will arrive by the end of the year, Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said.

The shipments will be the first under a wider agreement, signed in May by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s government, for 100,000 Russian-made Kalashnikov AK-103 and AK-104 rifles. The remaining 70,000 rifles will be delivered in March, Zhukov said. Russia agreed to sell Venezuela’s military 10 helicopters in March, including Mi-17s, Mi-35s and one Mi-26T, for $120 million. A Venezuelan general announced a deal for five additional Mi-17 helicopters in June for $81 million.

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Venezuelans practice repelling U.S. invasion
Civilians, troops train for attack President Chavez says could come to topple him.

SAN JUAN DE LAS GALDONAS, Venezuela -- Camouflaged soldiers jumped from boats into the surf and waded ashore in a mock assault Thursday, the latest in a series of Venezuelan military exercises preparing for a U.S. invasion that President Hugo Chavez warns could come.

Hundreds of men, women and children met the troops on the beach, some shouting "Gringos go home!" and "Freedom!" The soldiers ignored them and hiked into this small fishing town, stone-faced as they spread out and took control.



Military exercises: Venezuelan soldiers leapt from a boat Thursday during a mock invasion of the port of San Juan de las Galdonas. "We have to be prepared in case of a war," said resident Magaly Rojas, 38.

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