Spain offered today to sell Colombia 21 military planes and donate four helicopters in a friendship gesture to help the Andean country fight cocaine-smuggling Marxist guerrillas.
"We are not doing a business deal here. We are doing something that shows solidarity in the face of terrorism and in favor of peace," Spanish Defense Minister Jose Bono told reporters in Bogota.
The day before, Mr Bono signed a $2 billion deal in Caracas with left-wing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to sell his country naval ships and transport aircraft, a transaction the United States worries could threaten regional stability.
Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe is seen by the United States as its top South American security ally. Mr Bono denied that the gesture was aimed at counterbalancing Spain's dealings with Mr Chavez.
He has previously argued that Venezuela could use the vessels and aircraft for rescue and anti-drug operations.
The offer consists of 12 planes from the air force and nine newer planes from aircraft maker EADS-CASA along with four army helicopers, Mr Bono told Spanish state radio. He declined to disclose the value of the deal but said the planes were being offered at a discount.
Diplomatic ties between Venezuela and Colombia are often frayed by security incidents along their rugged 1,400-mile (2,200-km) border.