Clinton spoke after a meeting with Colombian officials on a plan to expand the US military presence inside Colombia. Colombia has agreed to grant US forces the use of three military bases for anti-drug operations while also allowing hundreds of troops and private military contractors inside its borders. On Tuesday, Clinton addressed Latin American opposition to the base plans.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “The agreement does not create US bases in Colombia. It does provide the United States access to Colombian bases, but command and control, administration, and security will be Colombia’s responsibility. And any US activity will have to be mutually agreed upon in advance. The United States does not have and does not seek bases inside Colombia. Second, there will be no significant permanent increase in the US military presence in Colombia.”

Clinton’s comments come just days after a group of more than 100 religious, community and academic figures urged her to drop the Colombia base deal. In a letter to Clinton, the signatories said, “The United States should not create a fortress in Colombia in concert with the region’s worst rights violators, the Colombian military.” The letter was organized by the group Fellowship of Reconciliation.