Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his Chilean
counterpart Michelle Bachelet Thursday said they oppose U.S.-Colombian
plans to allow the U.S. access to Colombian airbases for international
counternarcotics operations.
“I do not like the idea of an American military base in Colombia,” Lula da Silva said Thursday when holding a press conference with Bachelet.
“But like I wouldn’t want them to meddle in Brazilian affairs, I will not meddle in those of Colombia,” the President added.
Lula said he will discuss the increased cooperation with U.S. President Barack Obama.
Bachelet told the press in Brazi; she “fully agreed” with Lula and that Colombia’s decision to allow the U.S. to use its airbases “affects all countries and worries them.”
Colombia and the U.S. are near closing a deal that allows the U.S. to use Colombian facilities for the north Americans’ counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean and Pacific. The plans caused great friction with neighbors Ecuador and Venezuela.