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IPFS News Link • National Security

Colombia Says It's Puzzled Over John Bolton's "5,000 Troops To Colombia" Note

• https://www.zerohedge.com

Colombia is downplaying Monday's incident in which US national security advisor John Bolton perhaps inadvertently flashed the contents a yellow notepad he was holding during a White House press briefing to reveal handwritten text "5,000 troops to Colombia," which was picked up by photographers. The words were seen scribbled behind "Afghanistan – welcome the talks" in apparent notes made while previously discussing White House foreign policy and national security. 

Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes dismissed the possibility of any impending joint action with its close ally the US, saying in a brief address late Monday that he does not know the "importance and reason" for Bolton's note. Holmes further said noting that his country will only act "politically and diplomatically" to restore order in neighboring Venezuela and will attempt to ensure new elections are held.

Bogota has recently joined the United States in backing National Assembly opposition leader Juan Guaido as the legitimate "Interim President" of Venezuela and is seen in close coordination with Washington. The South American country shares a 1,370 mile border land border with Venezuela and has long been accused by the Nicolas Maduro government of harboring militants engaged in coup and assassination plots against him. Any significant US military intervention in South America would likely have Colombia involved at the very least as an important logistical and staging hub. 

Concerning Bolton's "leaked" notepad contents, there remains


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