Venezuela President Hugo Chavez speaks during an event to commemorate the anniversary of the National Guard in the neighborhood of Petare in Caracas August 4, 2009. REUTERS/Miraflores Palace/Handout

CARACAS (Reuters) - A planned increase in U.S. troops on Colombian military bases could be a step toward war in South America, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Wednesday.

Chavez has previously put his troops on alert in diplomatic disputes with neighboring Colombia but then backed down.