Colombia, U.S. sign bases deal

BOGOTA, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- The United States and Colombia have signed a deal expanding Washington's military presence by allowing U.S. military access to seven Colombian bases.

The agreement, signed in a private, low-key ceremony in Bogota, has been called a threat to the region's security by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield signed the deal along with Colombia's foreign, justice and defense ministers at the Foreign Ministry here, said U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Ana Duque.

The United States and Colombia have long argued that the deal aims to use the bases in combating rebels and drug trafficking.

Venezuela's concerns of increased U.S. military presence, however, are being shared by some of Colombia's neighbors, including Brazil, Bolivia and Ecuador.

They say the planned U.S. military deployment is suspiciously large for its stated purpose.

Still, South America's main power broker, President Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, has dropped initial objections to the bases agreement after senior U.S. officials visited to explain it.

U.S. officials have tried to allay concerns by repeatedly arguing that the agreement entails use of the Colombian bases and will not lead to the building of U.S. facilities on South American soil, as some critics of the plans fear.

Even U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has offered assurances, sending letters to her counterparts in South America.

Senior political officials say that the agreement will not require congressional approval because it does not involve the movement of foreign troops through Colombia for offensive purposes.

"The accord does not affect the neutrality of the state, does not imply the movement of (foreign) troops, does not contemplate the passage of military personnel for offensive purposes," said the speaker of Colombia's lower house, Edgar Gomez.

Earlier in the week Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva insisted the agreement did not constitute a major new development but simply a continuation of U.S.-Colombian cooperation.

He said it was supported by the majority of Colombians who, he said, wanted more security.

"The agreement has no geopolitical or strategic connotation, other than being more effective in the fight against drug trafficking," he said.

Opposing the accord, however, are Colombia's main opposition parties, the Liberals and the leftist PDA.

No details of the pact have been disclosed, but local media have reported that the deal would afford U.S. access to Colombian bases for a decade.

The media reported that U.S. counter-drug flights that previously operated out of Manta, Ecuador, would be based at the Palanquero base in the central Magdalena Valley. Navy port calls would also be more frequent.

Colombia and the United States contend that the agreement was necessary after Ecuador refused to renew Washington's lease on an air base used for counter-narcotics operations earlier this year.