Colombia has announced it will build a new military base near its border with Venezuela, in a move likely to further strain its tense relationship with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
Defense Minister Gabriel Silva said Friday that the base, located on the Guajira peninsula near the city of Nazaret, would have up to 1,000 troops. Two air battalions would also be activated at other border areas.
"It is a strategic point from a defense point of view," Silva said.
The US$1.5 million facility, paid for with Colombian taxes, would also have a care facility for indigenous Wayuu people who live in the area, he added.
Army Commander General Oscar Gonzalez meanwhile announced Saturday that six air battalions were being activated, including two on the border with Venezuela.
Tensions between Venezuela and Colombia have been heightened by a U.S. deal with Bogota allowing U.S. forces to run anti-drug operations from Colombian bases.
Venezuela suspended diplomatic relations with Colombia on July 28 in response to the U.S.-Colombian military base deal.
The agreement, signed on October 30, involves seven Colombian bases and has sparked consternation throughout the region, particularly irking Caracas.
Venezuela shares a 2,000-kilometer (1,250-mile) border with Colombia and has denounced the deal, saying it poses a military threat to the sovereignty of Latin American countries.
In November Chavez called on his countrymen to "prepare for war" and Colombia's defense minister said Friday that "for the first time in decades, the defense ministry must study to prepare to face a foreign threat." (AFP)
tomtom33
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... Anything could possibly inflame Hugo. However, what does he expect with all of his saber-rattling? And it seems that both sides decry lax border security. This could help. Maybe an AWACS or two could help that security. :) |
Bluebird
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... yes, hugo will go ballistic and he will make fiery, threatening speeches. There will be much saber rattling, much bravado and bluster. He will again send tanks and troops to the border as he has done many times in the past when he wanted to try and intimidate Colombia but those days are now past. His bluster does not work any more. I agree with tomtom that this could actually help stabilize the border area in a number of ways. And yes, when they get an AWAC or two on daily border patrol it will improve security for both countries tremendously. |
Bluebird
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... You can be sure that AWACs will be deployed along the border with Ecuador as well. |
gringo michae
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... My question is why has this not been long ago, they have know for sometime thay armed groups flee across the border to saftey after attacks , one would have thought they would have beefed up the border areas sometime ago there is to much saber rattling going on both sides these days, there was a suggestion by mayors along the border for UN troops to monitor the border maybe that time has come. |
Ernesto Castro
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... Colombia needs to wake up and have a strong national defense to preserve the democracy and the freedom of its people. I support the move and it is about time for Colombia to realize the danger that a sick leftist man like Hugo Chavez represents for the national security of Colombia and Latin America. God Bless Colombia and hope President Uribe and his Defense Minister ask the Almighty for wisdom in everything they do to protect Colombia. |
crispancho
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... Improve security? Colombia can not improve security in it's own cities what would you think that having AWACS flown by USA improve security? Conflict means profits for the military industrial complex, and do you really think that if your LLC would want peace? Yea this will fix the problem! These AWACs should be on the US Mexican border. How long has the WAR ON DRUGS been going on? As a US tax payer I thought that the US military was to protect the USA. |
Bluebird
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... @ crustpuncho how is it that you are able to work the phrase "military industrial complex" into almost every single post no matter what the subject matter of the thread??? LOL |
crispancho
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... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY Bluebird go to this link and you might learn something for the past. War means profit for US defense contractors, so who wins? Who buys oil from the big mouth Hugo Chavez and Citgo. Bluebird read about the non-violent struggle of Apartheid in South Africa and you might learn about what change do without shedding more blood. |
