Venezuela inks $2.2 bln weapons deal with Russia

"The Russian government approved financing of 2.2 billion (dollars) for the cost of the weapons," President Hugo Chavez said in his weekly radio and television broadcast on Sunday.

"Thanks to the support of the Russian President (Dmitry Medvedev) and the Prime Minister (Vladimir Putin), the purchase of arms aimed at boosting our defensive capacity has became viable."

Chavez described some of the weapons in the new arsenal, including 92 Soviet-era T-72 main battle tanks that his military will receive "in order to modernize our fleet of armored vehicles."

Chavez has long expressed a desire to improve his nation's military with Moscow's help, and the substantial deal comes amid rising tensions between Caracas and Bogota over Colombia's decision to allow the United States access to several military bases on its territory.