NATO rejects possible membership of Colombia

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), powerful alliance that integrates the major military powers of the world, rejected Colombia’s request to be accepted in that body, arguing that the Andean country “does not meet the geographical criteria” for a membership.

The announcement of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, that his country will initiate a “closer approach” to the NATO with a view to a possible membership in that defensive organization, scared the latin american “anti-imperialism”, at a time when relations between Colombia and Venezuela remain strained.

The governments of Nicaragua and Venezuela, which maintain a diplomatic dispute with Colombia, said the request means opening the doors of the region to an alliance that has the largest nuclear arsenals. The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, also showed discontent and described Santos’ announcements as a “threat”, a “provocation” and “a conspiracy against anti-imperialist governments” of the continent.

For its part, Colombia’s Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon, considered the whole issue as “a storm in a teacup” and denied that involves the presence of foreign troops in the region.