The United States already is using six of the seven bases mentioned in the military pact signed with Colombia on Friday, U.S. ambassador to Bogota, William Brownfield, said Sunday.
In an interview published in newspaper El Tiempo, Brownfield said the newly signed agreement is no more than “an upgrade of deals that already exist and does not mean an expansion of U.S. military presence in Colombia.”
The “only change is that of the seven mentiones bases there is one we haven’t been in the past: Palanquero,” Brownfield said.
According to the ambassador, the U.S. soldiers in Colombia will not take part in military operations carried out by the Colombian armed forces and will also not take part in any missions that could pose a threat to neighboring countries.
Neighboring countries Venezuela and Ecuador expressed their disagreement with the military pact, claiming an increase of U.S. military presence in Colombia poses a threat to their sovereignty.