Brazil, Argentina reiterate concern with "extra-regional" military bases in South America

The presidents of Brazil and Argentina, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, reaffirmed on Wednesday their concern with the presence of a "military base of extra-regional power in South America," which they consider as an "incompatible situation with the principles of respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States in the region."

In a joint statement issued after a working meeting in Brasilia, the leaders have referred to, without explicitly mentioning, a military agreement between Colombia and the United States that allows American troops to use bases in Colombia, supposedly to combat drug trafficking.

The presidents expressed their conviction that "South American countries are able to cope on their own with the challenges that arise in the fields of defense and security."

"They stressed the importance that UNASUL (Union of South American Nations) adopt a mechanism to build confidence in defense and security fields, so as to promote cooperation and prevent tensions," said the document.

The two leaders also stated that military cooperation agreements signed by countries in the region, especially those involving some degree of extra-regional presence in South America, must be accompanied "by formal assurances that such agreements will not be used against sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and stability in South American countries."

Led by Brazil, several countries have asked Colombia and the United States for legal guarantees that the bases will not be used for activities outside Colombia.

Source: Xinhua