Colombia clarifies Cold War remarks

Colombia clarified a statement by the its defense minister suggesting Russia's military presence in the region would result in a "Cold War", RIA Novosti says. Juan Manuel Santos Calderon said on Saturday that Russia's increasing military presence in Latin America would lead to a return to Cold War era tensions. Colombia clarifies Cold War remarks "Russia, with its 16,000 nuclear bombs, has a great desire to be a key player in the world. But its presence in the region will promote a return to the Cold War," he said on the Colombian radio station, Caracol. However, on Sunday, the Defense Ministry said that, "Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, speaking in the city of Cartagena, did not criticize Russia, nor did he reflect the official position [when he said] that the Colombian authorities are concerned by the upcoming joint Russian-Venezuelan military exercise." "When he spoke about the possibility of a return to a 'Cold War' era, the minister was only citing the opinion of leading world policy experts," it said. It added that the Colombian government was interested in dialogue with Russia and was ready to discuss any issue. Speaking ahead of an official visit to Russia, Santos said plans for Russian naval exercises in the Caribbean in November could "affect the balance of power in the region and its stability." "Russia has already shown its strength, sending two strategic bombers capable of carrying 16 nuclear warheads to our neighbor, Venezuela." Santos said, adding that the region had not seen anything similar since the Cuban missile crisis over four decades ago. "Who would have thought a couple of years ago that we would have a new center of a Cold War near us?" he asked. Two Russian strategic bombers recently carried out patrols along the coast of South America during a visit to Russia's chief ally on the continent, Venezuela. A Russian naval task force led by the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky is also currently on its way to the country for joint exercises in the Caribbean. Santos said he hoped his visit to Russia, the first by a Colombian defense minister, would improve relations between the two countries, particularly with regard to Colombia's struggle against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.

Colombia clarifies Cold War remarks

"Russia, with its 16,000 nuclear bombs, has a great desire to be a key player in the world. But its presence in the region will promote a return to the Cold War," he said on the Colombian radio station, Caracol.

However, on Sunday, the Defense Ministry said that, "Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos Calderon, speaking in the city of Cartagena, did not criticize Russia, nor did he reflect the official position [when he said] that the Colombian authorities are concerned by the upcoming joint Russian-Venezuelan military exercise."

"When he spoke about the possibility of a return to a 'Cold War' era, the minister was only citing the opinion of leading world policy experts," it said.

It added that the Colombian government was interested in dialogue with Russia and was ready to discuss any issue.

Speaking ahead of an official visit to Russia, Santos said plans for Russian naval exercises in the Caribbean in November could "affect the balance of power in the region and its stability."

"Russia has already shown its strength, sending two strategic bombers capable of carrying 16 nuclear warheads to our neighbor, Venezuela." Santos said, adding that the region had not seen anything similar since the Cuban missile crisis over four decades ago.

"Who would have thought a couple of years ago that we would have a new center of a Cold War near us?" he asked.

Two Russian strategic bombers recently carried out patrols along the coast of South America during a visit to Russia's chief ally on the continent, Venezuela. A Russian naval task force led by the nuclear-powered missile cruiser Pyotr Veliky is also currently on its way to the country for joint exercises in the Caribbean.

Santos said he hoped his visit to Russia, the first by a Colombian defense minister, would improve relations between the two countries, particularly with regard to Colombia's struggle against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.