US Defense Secretary announces helicopter sale to Colombia

By Dialogo
April 24, 2012

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced in this capital on April 23 the sale of 10 helicopters to help the South American nation’s fight against terrorism.
“The United States will continue to support Colombia in its fight against the FARC and organized crime,” Panetta said.
With his Colombian counterpart, Juan Carlos Pinzón, Panetta visited the Tolemaida base, in the mountains surrounding Bogotá, where U.S. personnel train Colombian special forces.
Panetta is expected in Brazil April 24 for meetings with President Dilma Rousseff and Defense Minister Celso Amorim. Panetta is expected to discuss with Brazilian officials cooperation in Africa on issues such as peacekeeper training, as well as security arrangements for the upcoming World Cup and the Olympic Games.
After a stop in Rio de Janeiro to give a speech at a military academy, Panetta will travel to Chile, where he wants to talk about the country’s experience using the military during natural disasters. He will meet with President Sebastián Piñera and Defense Minister Andrés Allamand.
[AFP, 24/04/2012; Larepublica.com.co (Colombia), 24/04/2012]