| Submit your comments on this article |
| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Clinton Says Defense Deal Would Not Create US Bases in Colombia |
| 2009-08-19 |
| Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday the pending U.S.-Colombia defense cooperation agreement would not create U.S. bases in the South American country or significantly increase the American military presence there. Clinton discussed the soon-to-be-finalized accord with Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez. The two governments reached provisional agreement on the defense accord, giving U.S. forces access to Colombian bases to tackle regional drug-trafficking and terrorism, late last week. It has since been a focus of heavy criticism for some Latin American leaders, notably Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has depicted the accord as a manifestation of U.S. imperialism that could provoke war in the region. At a joint press appearance with her Colombian colleague, Clinton suggested opponents of the agreement were wrongly characterizing it, either deliberately or out of ignorance of its actual terms. She said the deal, to be finalized in the near future, gives American forces access to Colombia bases but that command, control and administration of the facilities will remain in Colombian hands. "Any U.S. activity will have to be mutually agreed upon in advance. The United States does not have, and does not seek, bases inside Colombia. Second, there will be no significant permanent increase in the U.S. military presence in Colombia. The Congressionally-mandated cap on the number of U.S. service members and contractors will remain, and will be respected," she said. Clinton also said the agreement is entirely about bilateral cooperation between the United States and Colombia and does not pertain to other countries. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 Like she knows. She's shuffled of to Kinshasa. |
| Posted by: mojo 2009-08-19 13:54 |
| #1 Your words are falling on deaf ears, Hillary. |
| Posted by: gorb 2009-08-19 11:56 |