(Xinhua) -- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez suggested creating a joint military force for the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) member nations to see off any possible United States military aggression. Speaking during his Sunday show "Alo Presidente" alongside special guest Nicaragua's President Daniel Ortega, he said "we are going to commission a working paper. We need a joint ALBA defense strategy." Ortega backed the idea, adding that the United States was working via Colombia to threaten "not only Venezuela but also the whole of Latin America." "If they mess with one of us, then they will be dealing with all of us," Ortega said. "Touching Venezuela would mean setting the region alight. Messing with Venezuela is messing with all of Latin America."
Chavez added that Brazil's President Luiz Inacio da Silva had recently agreed with the idea of creating a South American defense council, and that using the same logic not only a defense council but dedicated armed forces could be created.