Venezuela ? President Hugo Chavez says a U.S. general shouldn’t be raising concerns that Venezuela is buying arms, and the American commander is wrong to argue there isn’t a “conventional military threat in the region.”

Chavez says the U.S. is a threat to Venezuela, and that’s why his government is strengthening its military.

The comment is aimed at Gen. Douglas Fraser, who took over as commander of U.S. military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean this week. Fraser has questioned an apparent Venezuelan military buildup.

Chavez said Saturday that Fraser should look in a mirror, adding: “General, you’re the threat!”

Venezuela has signed deals with Russia to buy more than $4.4 billion worth of arms since 2005.