Chavez to 'revise' ties with Colombia
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
CARACAS, July 21 (AFP): Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Tuesday he would review ties with Colombia after Bogota agreed to host "US bases" in the country.
"Now that the Yankees want to set up four bases in Colombia... it forces us to revise our relations with Colombia," Chavez said on a state television station.
The Colombian government recently announced a deal allowing US troops to operate from Colombian military facilities.
Chavez said the deal was a "threat" to Venezuela which "opened the door to our constant attackers and those preparing fresh aggressions against us."
The deal comes after Ecuador, whose President Rafael Correa has become a close ally of Chavez, evicted the United States from a military base there, which was key to US anti-drug operations.
"Now that the Yankees want to set up four bases in Colombia... it forces us to revise our relations with Colombia," Chavez said on a state television station.
The Colombian government recently announced a deal allowing US troops to operate from Colombian military facilities.
Chavez said the deal was a "threat" to Venezuela which "opened the door to our constant attackers and those preparing fresh aggressions against us."
The deal comes after Ecuador, whose President Rafael Correa has become a close ally of Chavez, evicted the United States from a military base there, which was key to US anti-drug operations.