Colombia & U.S. defense pact

By Andrea

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

According to Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva, Colombia is going to sign a controversial security pact with the United States to improve countries’ fight against drug trafficking. The accord should be most likely signed on Friday.

This agreement has been criticized for various reasons. First, it gives U.S. troops access to seven Colombia's bases. Several neighboring leaders, especially the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, strongly disagree with an American military presence in the region. Then, the accord also grants U.S. troops immunity from criminal prosecution in Colombia.

Nevertheless, Michael Shifter, an expert on Colombia at Washington's Inter-American Dialogue think tank, said that the agreement “is mainly aimed at locking in the Colombia-U.S. relationship for an extended period.” He further asserted that…”There is no sign that it reflects a wider military strategy in the region.”

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/27/AR2009102701963.html