Ecuadorean Defense Minister Javier Ponce said Thursday Colombia, with
the support of the United States, could attack other countries under
the pretext of terrorism.
“The attack on Angostura, in the Ecuadorean Amazon, showed that it is the intention of Colombia to apply the theory of extraterritoriality, the right to attack any other sovereign country,” Ponce told local media. Ponce referred to the attack of Colombian military on a FARC camp on Ecuadorean territory in March 2008.
“Colombia often said that if it had to do it again [attack alleged terrorists outside Colombian territory] it will do it, and it will do it better,” the Defense Minister said.
Ponce also believes that Colombia will be supported for new attacks on neighboring countries by the military pact with the United States. Colombia and the United States are currently discussing an agreement that allows the U.S. to use Colombian military bases for their anti-narcotic operations.
The presence of U.S. military in Colombia to combat terrorism is only a pretext to hide the aggressive intentions of Colombia’s President, Alvaro Uribe, Ponce added.
Colombia and Ecuador have strain relations after Colombia attacked a camp of the FARC just over the Ecuadorean border. Colombia accuses Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa of having received financial support of the guerrillas while Ecuador accuses Colombia of exporting teh country’s violent countries to neighboring countries.
