US-Colombia deal faces criticism from neighboring countries
World
US-Colombia deal faces criticism from neighboring countries
Left-wing South American leaders have condemned US plans to increase itsmilitary presence in Colombia at an emergency summit in Argentina.Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez said it was part of a US strategy to dominate the region. Bolivia and Ecuador also said the deal was a threat to peace. But Colombian President Alvaro Uribe defended the plan, which will give US forces access to seven military bases. Mr Uribe said it was needed to combat drug-traffickers and insurgents. We are not talking about a political game, we are talking about a threat that has spilled blood in Colombian society, he said after holding up pictures of victims of attacks by leftist Farc rebels. Moderate leaders, including President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, have expressed reservations about the plan but are trying to ease tensions between Colombia and its neighbours.
