U.S. Secretary Of Defense In
Colombia To Promote Relations
BOGOTA - U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates pledged here on Thursday to deepen
trade and security cooperation with
Colombia.
Gates, who arrived in Bogota on Thursday
morning for a one-day visit, also reaffirmed
the Obama administration's support for its
"steadiest Latin American ally".
During his meeting with President Alvaro
Uribe, Grates hailed Colombia's "remarkable,
indeed historic, transformation in the
security arena that few would have thought
possible."
He called Uribe a "hero" who has achieved
great success in cracking down on drug
traffickers and leftist guerillas.
He also pledged to continue to work closely
with whoever succeeds Uribe, who is leaving
office in August after serving two terms.
"I conveyed to President Uribe and (Defense
Minister Gabriel Silva) ... our commitment
to work just as closely with whomever
succeeds them after the upcoming elections,"
he said.
The United States has channeled more than 6
billion U.S. dollars to Colombia through the
Plan Colombia initiative since 2000 to
finance the fight against drug trafficking
and insurgency.
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