Venezuelan Executive Vice-President José Vicente Rangel hoped the newly appointed Colombian Defense minister Juan Manuel Santos changes his stance on Venezuela, as he is now a member of President Álvaro Uribe's cabinet.

Rangel stressed he respected the Colombian ruler's "sovereign decisions." "Santos' problem is not with (Venezuelan) President (Hugo) Chávez. His problem is with Venezuelans. But I hope he will change his attitude now, as he is a member of the cabinet of President Uribe, a man who has shown a respectful position about Venezuelans," Rangel said in a press release.

The new Colombian Defense minister has been seen as a critic of President Chávez.