Colombian Congress on Tuesday received a copy of the controversial military pact with the U.S., signed by both nations last Friday. Congress is not permitted to amend the pact but Minister for the Interior and Justice Fabio Valencia stressed that it will “not enable the U.S. to attack other nations”.
While the pact will not go through the legislative process, the Colombian government agreed to make the content of the controversial deal public.
“This is purely a technical agreement only,” Valenica told Congress several times. “The agreement is not signed to allow the U.S. to attack other nations (…) In addition, all activities require authorization and coordination by the Colombian Government,” El Espectador quoted Valencia as saying.
The deal is controversial in Latin America because neighbors Venezuela and Ecuador consider an increased U.S. military presence to be a threat to their sovereignty.
Inside Colombia the deal has also caused controversy, because the Government refused to send it to Congress for ratification, claiming it adds nothing to already existing agreements.
The deal, which allows the U.S. to use seven military bases in Colombia, will go before U.S. Congress for ratification.