The U.S. Treasury releases a report warning of the dangers of Colombian rebel group the FARC’s presence in Venezuela.
A report from the U.S. Treasury Department was presented to President Barack Obama addressing terrorism issues with regards to Iran’s relations in Latin America as well as the dangerous links between Venezuela and the FARC.
The report states, “over the past several years, the U.S. Treasury has demonstrated a strong commitment to exposing terrorist financing and facilitation activity in Venezuela.” The connection between Venezuelan officials and FARC rebels has also been of “particular focus.”
Meanwhile, despite alleged links to terrorism and international pressure to end its developing nuclear program, Iran has inaugurated six embassies in Latin America over the past five years. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has intensified his government’s diplomatic and trade relations among such countries as Venezuela, Cuba, and Bolivia, which has raised great suspicion in Washington.
However, according to the report, Iran has “failed to establish a significant link in the region.”
“We have engaged proactively with the governments and the private sector throughout the region to warn consumers about the risks of doing business with Iran,” the report states.
The U.S. Treasury also indicated that it is working to build an “anti-terrorism framework” against money laundering to protect the region from those type of threats.