Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has urged his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama to attend an upcoming South American summit to address the rising concerns of Latin American leaders over a planned military agreement between Colombia and the U.S., which would give American forces greater access to seven Colombian bases, said Brazilian officials.
Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said President Lula made the request to Obama in a phone call, and added that the Brazilian leader had also asked the U.S. President for guarantees that the American troops would be restricted to conducting anti-drug and anti-terror operations within Colombia only.
President Lula also urged Obama to attend next Friday's South American summit in Argentina, saying that it was "very important" that he attend the summit, which has been specifically called to address the issue of U.S. bases in Colombia.
Earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said that her country is not seeking military bases in Colombia as feared by several South American countries, and stressed that the planned military agreement between the two countries is intended only for conducting anti-drug and anti-terror operations.
Pointing out that the threat from Colombian leftist rebels and drug traffickers was very real, she said that Washington was "committed to supporting the government of Colombia in its efforts to provide security to all its citizens". She also stressed that the planned deal would respect Colombia's sovereignty and would not lead to an increase the U.S. troop levels in the South American country. Colombia has been under fire from several South American countries ruled by socialist governments after it announced the ongoing discussions with the United States over an agreement that would allow Washington use seven Colombian military bases to conduct anti-drug operations.
While Bolivian President Evo Morales accused Colombia of betraying Latin American interests with its plan to let US troops use Colombian bases, Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez voiced his opposition on boosting U.S. military presence in Colombia and Argentina termed the move as "not helpful."
The uproar in South America prompted Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe, to undertake a tour of the region to try and assuage anxieties of its neighbors on the issue. Following Uribe's tour, Brazil and Chile agreed to respect Colombia's sovereign right to carry out the plan.
Earlier, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged the U.S. administration not to increase American military presence in Colombia, warning that the move was a step towards all-out regional war. Chavez also cut diplomatic ties with Colombia in connection with the issue and over a Colombian allegation that Caracas was supporting the leftist FARC rebels in Colombia.
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