Venezuela ? Iran’s president opened his nation’s wallet to Bolivia on Thursday and then visited Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez, declaring “no one can defeat us” during a trip aimed at strengthening ties with Latin American leftists and countering U.S. influence.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged to invest $1 billion in Bolivia over the next five years to help the poor Andean nation tap its vast natural gas reserves, extract minerals, generate more electricity and fund agricultural and construction projects.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, who joins Chavez as one of Iran’s key allies, called Ahmadinejad’s visit historic as the two nations established diplomatic relations for the first time.

Later Thursday in Venezuela, Ahmadinejad and Chavez greeted each other warmly on a red carpet in front of the presidential palace and then let loose with rhetoric challenging Washington, whose influence they are seeking to roll back in the region.

“Together we are surely growing stronger, and in truth no one can defeat us,” the Iranian leader said through an interpreter. Apparently referring to the U.S., he said, “Imperialism has no other option: Respect the peoples (of the world) or accept defeat.”