The chief of the U.S. Southern Command, David C. Garza, said that his country had “nothing to hide” in the military agreement with Colombia, saying that the concern generated in the region has been because the details are not yet known.
“I think that perhaps our communication plan was not effective, but we don not need to hide this agreement,” Garza said from Chile, where he is preparing to help celebrate Chilean Independence Day, reports Colombian news source CMI.
The agreement between the U.S. and Colombia allows American troops the possibility of using Colombia’s seven military bases, which has generated widespread concern in the region, recently addressed at a UNASUR summit in Quito.
Garza said that the agreement “is an extension of previous agreements”, and will allow the U.S. “to continue supporting Colombia in issues of security regarding the fight against drug trafficking, and arms, and narcoterrorism.”
However, he said that the United States has no intention of establishing bases in Colombia or Latin America, and that the agreement limits the number of personnel to 800 military and 600 contractors.