Venezuela lurched into what analysts said would be an arms race with US-backed Colombia on Monday after President Hugo Chávez agreed to procure weapons from Brazil on the heels of acquisitions from Russia.

Mr Chávez signed agreements with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil in Caracas that included the likely purchase of at least a dozen Super Tucano light attack aircraft from Brazil and the joint development of oil and gas projects.