Venezuela wants the Union of South American Nations Friday to begin a
“process of reversion” of the U.S.-Colombian to plan expand the
countries’ cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.
The members of UNASUR, including Colombia, will attend a special summit about the pending military pact Argentina.
Despite several explanations about the accord by high U.S. officials and a South American tour by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, the plan continues to raise concerns in a large number of Latin American countries.
A poll conducted by Venezuela-based television station Telesur showed that a large majority of the people in Latin America oppose increased U.S. military activity in the region.
Especially Colombia’s neighbors, Venezuela and Ecuador, reject the plan. Their leftist governments consider U.S. military in the region a threat. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez accuses the CIA of having supported a 2002 coup against him.
“We hope that of the summit in Bariloche important conclusion will be drawn that will guarantee the South American continent … the military bases of the United States begin a process of reversion,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said Saturday.
On August 28, all members of UNASUR will meet in Bariloche, Argentina, to discuss the plan to allow the U.S. to use at least seven Colombian military bases for counternarcotics operations.
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said he will be present at the meeting. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants U.S. President Barack Obama to personally talk to South American leaders to explain the exact plans of the U.S. in South America.
