The US State Department has criticized Russia over plans to sell light weapons to Venezuela, expressing concerns that the Russian armaments could end up in the hands of militants in neighboring Colombia. US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli on Thursday said Washington was "extremely troubled by Venezuelan arms purchases from Russia", and that the weapons could have a "destabilizing effect on the hemisphere". Ereli said the US had already raised the issue with Russia several times. Russia reportedly plans to sell Venezuela 40 MiG jet fighters and more than 100'000 AK-47 assault rifles. Ereli said Washington was concerned about how Venezuela would secure the new armaments as well as the thousands of old rifles they would replace, adding that Venezuela should have consulted its neighbors about such a large arms purchase. Ereli mentioned two leftist Colombian groups - known by their Spanish initials FARC and ELN, which the US has designated as terrorist organizations - that he said could get easily obtain arms thanks to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's "tolerant attitude towards these groups".