UNASUR Secretary-General, and former Colombian president Ernesto Samper recently suggested that Latin American countries should begin to renegotiate the terms of their relationship with the United States government, and request that they close their military bases within these countries.

His sentiments are shared by many residents of South and Central America, as well as many of the governments. Samper suggested that this week’s “Summit of the Americas” would be a good place for Latin American politicians to start this conversation.

“A good point on the new agenda of relations [in Latin America] would be the elimination of US military bases,” Samper said. Samper also suggested that these military bases that the US government has scattered throughout the world are remnants of the cold war.

“In a globalized world like the present one, you can’t ask for global rules for the economy and maintain unilateral rules for politics. No country has the right to judge the conduct of another and even less to impose sanctions and penalties on their own,” he added.

It is unknown exactly how many military bases that the United States government has scattered throughout the world because so many of them are secret and off the record. Some reports suggest that the number is as low as 500, with other suggesting that it is around 1000 or even higher. The US has 227 military bases in Germany alone.

John Vibes is an author, researcher and investigative journalist who takes a special interest in the counter culture and the drug war. In addition to his writing and activist work he organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference, which features top caliber speakers and whistle-blowers from all over the world. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can find his 65 chapter Book entitled “Alchemy of the Timeless Renaissance” at bookpatch.com.