"Do you think that (Venezuelan President Hugo) Chávez will stop buying Russian weapons if we have a fight? What is the end of keeping on fighting because he is buying Russian weapons?" said Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos when asked about an arms race in the region, in an interview with US network CNN.

Santos ruled out the possibility that this issue may undermine relations with Venezuela. Additionally, he stressed that "this is a good time for dialogue" with Ecuador.

Santos reestablished relations with Venezuela a few days after his inauguration as Colombia's president on August 7, 2010.