Venezuela Halts Work Of U.S. Military Instructors
Venezuela halts work of U.S. military instructors
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela has ordered U.S. military instructors to stop working with its armed forces in an abrupt cessation of a 35-year-old bilateral military exchange program, the U.S. embassy said on Friday.
"The U.S. embassy regrets this unexpected action. The U.S. government hopes to maintain the historical fraternal relations between the two militaries," the embassy said in statement.
The move marked a further deterioration in military contacts between President Hugo Chavez's government and the United States, which has sharply criticized recent arms purchases by the left-wing Venezuelan leader.
A U.S. official told Reuters that four American military instructors and one student in Venezuela under the bilateral exchange program had been told to leave the bases and schools where they were working.
"It was unexpected and no explanation was given," the official, who asked not to be named, said.
The U.S. army, air force and navy officers were instructing their Venezuelan counterparts in areas such as infantry tactics, flying and communications.
When contacted by Reuters, a Venezuelan Defense Ministry spokesman said he had no information about the move.
Since he was first elected president of the world's No. 5 oil exporter in 1998, Chavez has made a point of downgrading military cooperation with Washington. For example, he has refused to allow U.S. planes to carry out anti-narcotics flights over Venezuela.
In contrast, he has forged alliances with states seen as hostile by the U.S., such as Cuba and Iran, and has announced arms and military equipment purchases from Russia, Spain, China and Brazil.
A year ago, Venezuela asked members of the U.S. military mission to leave liaison offices at armed forces bases in the country.
But the United States still maintains a 17-strong group of military personnel in Venezuela. This includes 13 defense attaches at the embassy and members of a military assistance group that deals with arms purchases, including spares for Venezuela's squadron of U.S.-made F-16 fighters.
