South American presidents call on Obama to explain US strategic interests in Latin AmericaBARILOCHE, Argentina — South American presidents wrangled for hours Friday over a pending deal to expand the U.S. troop presence in Colombia, closing their meeting with a statement that foreign troops should not be allowed to threaten any of the region’s nations. Secrecy surrounding Colombia-US military riles ‘Yankees go-home’ crowdBARILOCHE, Argentina — Secrecy surrounding a military agreement between the U.S. and Colombia has critics warning of a new Yankee menace to the continent. Leaders at Friday’s South American summit want assurances they won’t be targeted. Colombia-US base access deal, secrecy surrounding talks, riles region ahead of summitBARILOCHE, Argentina — It might have seemed like nothing more than a contract renewal to U.S. negotiators — a 10-year lease on space at seven Colombian bases that would improve the fight against drug traffickers and leftist rebels. Chile explores Bolivian access to Pacific, dismisses Peruvian concernsBARILOCHE, Argentina — Landlocked Bolivia’s effort to regain the Pacific coastline it lost in a war with Chile more than a century ago will come up again Friday on the sidelines of the South American presidents’ summit. Venezuela-Colombia dispute unsettles region where military spending is rising sharplyBARILOCHE, Argentina — Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez has raised the stakes for Friday’s meeting of South American presidents by threatening to break relations with Colombia over plans to give U.S. troops a 10-year lease on its bases. |