April 18,2008: Venezuela is now the biggest importer of foreign weapons in South America, and ninth world-wide. Last year, Venezuela brought in $887 million worth of arms, up from $477 million in 2006. Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez is trying to arm the country to defend it against the United States, who he insists is bent on conquering Venezuela.

The top three weapons importers last year were Greece ($2.1 billion), South Korea ($1.80 billion) and China ($1.43 billion).