U.S., Argentine
Officials Meet On
Planned U.S. Military Bases in Colombia
Bariloche, Argentina - A
senior U.S. official met Thursday with
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana to
discuss the controversial U.S. military
bases in Colombia.
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
Western Hemisphere Affairs Christopher
McMullen told Taiana that the U.S.-Colombian
military deal is "an update of the
cooperation agreement that both countries
have developed for many years," the U.S.
embassy said in a statement.
McMullen said "the meetings with Argentine
officials whom we informed of the U.S.
position" on the Defense Cooperation
Agreement with Colombia "were very
positive."
"We renewed our commitment to keep a
transparent and cooperative relationship
with all the governments in the region," he
added.
Bogota and Washington have completed talks
over their military cooperation that would
allow U.S. troops to use five air bases and
two naval bases on the Colombian territory.
Though Washington said the agreement "is
aimed at eliminating the threats to security
inside Colombia, like drug trafficking and
transnational crimes," many South American
countries have voiced their concerns over
more U.S. military presence in the region.
Leaders from the Union of the South American
Nations (Unasur), who are gathering in
Bariloche for a summit on Friday, will
discuss the U.S.-Colombian military deal.
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