CARACAS, April 4: President Hugo Chavez said Venezuela is ready to buy Russian fighter jets because Washington refuses to sell it spare parts for a fleet of F-16 fighters that is slowly being grounded for lack of upgrades. “Russia, at our request, has responded, and today I say it and repeat it more firmly and with more certainty: we are ready to buy Russian fighter jets and keep them here so they can protect this land,” Chavez said Monday at a military ceremony.

“We’ve had problems getting spare parts for our F-16s because they are US made. They want our F-16s, little by little, to be grounded,” Chavez said referring to the US government.

Washington has cooled relations with oil-rich Venezuela since Chavez came to power in 1999, brandishing leftist rhetoric and making friendly overtures to Iran and Cuba.

Besides refusing to sell Venezuela spare parts, Washington last year forced Israel to cancel a contract to upgrade Venezuela’s F-16s.

Chavez has turned to Russia for help, and thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for approving the sale of 33 military helicopters and 100,000 AK-47 assault rifles to Venezuela.

At the ceremony, he announced the delivery of the first three Russian helicopters.

Army Commander Raul Baduel said Russia was expected to deliver 16 helicopters and 30,000 rifles this year.

Chavez also complained that a deal to buy training aircraft from Brazil had also fallen through because the manufacturer “uses US technology and (the United States) forbade them from making airplanes for Venezuela.”

“Its crazy. They’re only training aircraft,” Chavez said. “This is simply the decision by people who think they own the world ... Well, we feel sorry for Brazil because it was good business.”

Despite the setbacks, Chavez said he would follow through with his plan to upgrade Venezuela’s armed forces.

“Nothing and nobody will stop us from making our country’s armed forces stronger,” he said.