Global Security Newswire

Colombia last month announced its support for the principles of a U.S.-led program to prevent smuggling of weapons of mass destruction on the high seas, the State Department said yesterday (see GSN, Oct. 27, 2009).

"By adhering to the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Colombia expresses its willingness to work jointly with members of PSI to prevent and stop the transport of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems and related materials," the department said in a statement.

"Colombia will devote resources and efforts to interdiction operations and capabilities within the framework of the initiative, in accordance with its national law and national capabilities, and without prejudice of the efforts and resources that Colombia should allocate to the maintenance of public order and defense of the institutions against the actions of the illegal armed groups,” the statement says.

The United States commended the South American country's entry into the program.

To date, 96 nations on six continents have joined the initiative (U.S. State Department release, May 17).