Colombian defense minister visits U.S. Southern Command

Courtesy Photo | U.S. Air Force Gen. Douglas M. Fraser, commander of U.S. Southern Command, greets Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva upon his arrival at Miami International Airport Wednesday. The defense minister met with Fraser and other command leaders today to discuss current and future cooperation between U.S. and Colombia's armed forces. Silva is in the U.S. at the invitation of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates as part of a routine defense leader visit. (Photo by U.S. Army Spc. Jason N. Edwards)  

MIAMI, FL, UNITED STATES

10.29.2009

Courtesy Story

U.S. Southern Command

MIAMI - Colombian Defense Minister Gabriel Silva visited U.S. Southern Command headquarters today, where he met with the commander of U.S. Southern Command, U.S. Air Force Gen. Douglas M. Fraser, and other command leaders to discuss current and future cooperation between U.S. and Colombia's armed forces.

The minister is in the U.S. at the invitation of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates as part of a routine defense leader visit. Silva visited the Pentagon Monday, where he met with Gates and discussed a broad range of security issues including topics relating to counter-narcotics operations.

Silva participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony Tuesday and visited Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, as well as MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., Wednesday.

Today's visit to headquarters U.S. Southern Command is the first by Silva since assuming his present duties as Colombia's defense minister.

Security Cooperation between the U.S. and Colombia dates back more than half a century. Over the past decade, U.S. Southern Command has provided assistance to Colombia's armed forces to support the country in its efforts to end more than four decades of conflict with illegally armed groups and disrupt illicit trafficking activities within its borders.

U.S. Southern Command's ongoing security assistance to Colombia includes training, logistics and intelligence support. Examples include:

- U.S. Military Planning Assistance Training Teams (PATTS), who work with Colombian military commanders and their staffs to help them improve their operational planning capabilities
- Training Colombian trainers for critical specialties, such as aviation, maintenance, and counterterrorism
- Training and assistance in the development and sustainment of a human rights policy and program
- Counter Narcotics Brigade Training
- Riverine Training
- Assistance with enhancing and sustaining airlift capacity
- Assistance with the development of the Colombian Military Command and Control System
- Assistance with the establishment of social and civic support programs in communities previously controlled by illegally armed groups, such as the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) or National Liberation Army (ELN)

For more information about U.S. Southern Command security cooperation with Colombia and other regional partners visit www.southcom.mil or contact the Public Affairs Office at 305-437-1213.

• Date Taken: 10.29.2009
• Date Posted: 10.29.2009 12:12
• Story ID: 40820
• Location: MIAMI, FL, US