The interim government of Honduras has said it will not allow a high-level delegation from the Organisation of American States to visit for talks. It said OAS chief Jose Miguel Insulza would not be an impartial observer.
President Barack Obama joined Friday a controversy boiling in South America by denying the United States is planning to set up military bases in Colombia as part of an upgraded security agreement with Bogotá. There have been those in the region who have been trying to play this up as part of a traditional anti-Yankee rhetoric. This is not accurate, Obama told Hispanic media reporters.
The Union of South American Nations, UNASUR will debate the creation of four ministerial councils on narcotics-traffic, infrastructure, culture and education and social development during the summit hosted by Ecuador which begins next Monday.
Brazil and Peru are considering five hydroelectric projects that would cost as much as 15 billion US dollars, revealed Brazilian Energy Minister Edison Lobao.
Colombian president Alvaro Uribe three day visit to seven South American countries to explain to his peers the extent of the military understanding with Washington, which includes deployment of US forces in seven Colombian bases, concluded with descriptions of “positive”, “cordial” and “very important”.
Chilean winemakers nearly swept an international wine contest in July, winning all but a few accolades at the event. The contest, Vinalies Cata d’or América Latina 2009, was held at the Hyatt Hotel in Santiago The competition, put on by Italy, Spain and Portugal, as well as Brazil, Uruguay and Bolivia.
US plans to deploy extra forces at seven Colombian bases could be a step toward war in South America claimed Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez who called on US President Barack Obama not to increase US presence in Colombia.
Brazilian government controlled Petrobras entered the Chilean fuel distribution market in Chile with the inauguration Tuesday of a service station in Santiago. The company paid 400 million US dollars for US-based Exxon-Mobil’s stake in Esso Chile Petrolera and other units in the Andean nation and has targeted a 20% share of the market.
Colombia is likely to become the regional hub for the Pentagon’s Latin American activities and its Fort Apache as US and Colombia near a cooperation agreement that would expand US military presence in the country.
Chile respects Colombia's sovereign decision to allow the US to use Colombian military bases for counter-narcotics operations in the region, the country's foreign Minister said Wednesday.