Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned US officials that he would consider sharing his country’s F-16 fighters with Cuba and China, according to the Associated Press. Chavez claims the Bush Administration has reneged on a contract to supply parts for his fleet of 21 Vipers. The aircraft were sold to Venezuela in 1983. DOD has denied that it has had any talks with Venezuela about sales to third countries.
In the wake of a major Chinese military shakeup, the head of U.S. Space Command warned of China’s “breathtakingly fast” advances in space during visits to Japan and South Korea. Gen. Stephen N. Whiting’s trip to the Indo-Pacific is his first overseas visit since taking command of SPACECOM in January.