BOGOTA, (Reuters) – Colombia’s government yesterday protested against what it charged were the “expansionist” plans of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, in the latest exchange to fuel diplomatic tensions between the Andean neighbors.
The protest came just days before a regional summit where Chavez is expected to try to rally support against a deal to allow the U.S. military more access to Colombian bases, a plan that triggered worries across the region from Brazil to Bolivia.
Former soldier Chavez often clashes with Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe, a U.S. ally, over charges Venezuela has interfered in Colombia’s domestic politics and over Colombia’s U.S.-backed war on cocaine traffickers and leftist guerrillas.
Chavez, a fierce critic of U.S. influence in the region, on Sunday urged his government to ensure his proposals were heard in Colombia and asked members of his socialist party to seek out alliances with leftist Colombian politicians. He had met with Colombian lawmakers recently in Caracas.
“The national government will repel any action of this expansionist project in Colombia, ratified publicly by President Hugo Chavez,” the government said in a statement. “In no manner can we accept insults to Colombians.”
Colombia will make a formal protest before the Organization of American States against Venezuela’s “interventionism”, the country’s ambassador to the OAS Luis Hoyos told local radio.
Tensions between Caracas and Bogota are again rising with Chavez accusing Bogota and Washington of aggression with their plan to allow U.S. troops to use more Colombian military bases for anti-narcotics and counter-insurgency operations.
Chavez has threatened to cut trade ties with Colombia. On Sunday he ordered investigations into Colombian companies and branded Colombia and the United States “narcostates.”
Bilateral trade between the two countries last year topped $6 billion and coffee-producing Colombia supplies much of Venezuelan food imports.
