Following a cooperation deal with Colombia last year, the United States military this week announced plans to further expand its influence throughout Latin America, using agreements with various governments including Brazil and Peru.
On April 12, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim signed an “umbrella” accord that will “lead to a deepening of U.S.-Brazil defense cooperation at all levels,” according to Gates. The agreement includes provisions for “military exchanges,” logistic support, training, cooperation on defense-related products and services, and more. It is the first such agreement since the late 1970s.
Gates arrived in the capital of Peru the next day, where he met with the Peruvian President and various defense officials. He offered more U.S. assistance in military affairs as well as “human rights training” to help boost the South American country’s image. “Our two nations are deepening an already-robust military partnership, and we discussed expanding this relationship through bilateral and multilateral initiatives,” Gates said.
Next on the defense boss’ Latin American tour was a stop in Colombia, widely considered the staunchest “U.S. ally” in the region. Gates praised outgoing Colombian President Alvaro Uribe and offered support to his successor. That nation’s government has already received billions of dollars from American taxpayers, much of which was spent wiping out rivals of a leftist narco-trafficking guerilla group known as the FARC. In October of last year, the American and Colombian regimes sparked a wave of fury throughout the region when they signed an agreement to allow U.S. troops to use seven military bases there.
By: Brant
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