Brazil to expand border security amid 'concerns' over US-Colombia pact

Brazilian troops in the Amazon

Most of the media reports have focused on the dispute between Colombia vs. Venezuela and Ecuador. What has not been mentioned much (if at all) is that Brazil also has a long border with Colombia in the Amazon.

Hillary and Colombian foreign minister Bermudez were to meet in Washington today to discuss the seven bases. There should be a story on the meeting later on this afternoon. (maybe). We shall see if Hillary or the Pentagon replies to Brazil's moving troops to the border.

Brazil's military is obviously not happy and of course this had to have the approval of Lula.

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Tuesday, 18 August 2009 11:07 Katharina Wecker

The Brazilian military announced on Tuesday that it will increase troops on the country's border with Colombia amid concerns over the expansion of U.S. troops in Colombia.

General Luiz Carlos Gomes Mattos, commander of the Brazilian's armed forces in the Amazon, told reporters he was "concerned" about the deal. "Anything that happens next to our borders is a concern, even if we have an excellent relationship .

According to the general, the Amazon military bases are equipped and prepared to prevent a possible spillover of Colombia's internal conflict.

"If the conflict enters our territory, military actions in our territory, we have no other choice. But as long as this is not happening, we are vigilant at the border," Mattos said.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has previously said that he respects Colombia's sovereignty and the country's decision to allow the U.S. to use Colombian military bases as long as the counter-narcotics operations are limited to the Colombian territory, even though he dislikes the idea of an expansion of U.S. troops in Colombia.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez on Tuesday to discuss the recently completed military cooperation deal and its potential impact in South America.

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Map of Brazil/Colombia border.

http://www.mapsofworld.com/colombia/colombia-political-map.html

Link to Colombia Reports (some other good stories to the right.)

http://www.colombiareports.com/colombia-news/news/5468-brazils-military-vigilant-at-colombian-border.html

It's also good the rest of Latin America is making adjustments needed to cope with this new prostitution of Colombia's government. No doubt this was arranged no later than 2008, probably as soon as Correa announced Ecuador was moving them out of Manta, which would have been years ago, during his presidential campaign.