US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez announced Tuesday in Washington, D.C., that the two nations have reached a provisional agreement that would allow the US access to seven Colombian military bases, including air force installations at Apiay, Malambo, and Palanquero, from which to mount counter-narcotics and counter-terrorist surveillance activities in the region. The agreement is now undergoing final review. The US has been looking for access rights to facilities in Latin America partner nations with the loss of Eloy Alfaro Air Base in Manta, Ecuador. Clinton said the agreement does not signal or authorize an increase in the US military presence in Colombia. (Fact sheet on agreement; Clinton-Bermudez press briefing transcript)
Due to the prolonged delay in deliveries of the Tech Refresh 3 version of the F-35 fighter, Denmark is pulling six of its TR-2-configured F-35 jets stationed in the U.S. back to home base in order to consolidate aircraft and get better training for its pilots and maintainers, the Danish…