UPDATE 1-Colombia takes Chavez war talk to Security Council

* Colombia sends letter to U.N. about Chavez "war threats"

* Border tense, trade down but armed conflict unlikely

(Adds comments from Colombian foreign minister)

By Hugh Bronstein

BOGOTA, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Colombia brought what it called threats of war from neighboring Venezuela to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday after Hugo Chavez, leader of the neighboring country, told his army to get ready to fight.

For months Chavez has said that a military pact signed in October between Bogota and Washington could set the stage for a U.S. invasion of Venezuela from Colombian territory.

The United States and Colombia dismiss that idea, saying their cooperation is aimed strictly at combating drug traffickers and Marxist insurgents within Colombia.

During a televised address on Sunday, Chavez ordered his military to prepare for war as the best way to preserve peace.

Colombia responded with a letter to the U.N. Security Council "about Venezuela's threats of using force against Colombia", a foreign ministry statement said, asking that the letter be distributed to all members of the council.