Oct. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Colombia signed an accord giving the U.S. use of military bases, saying the strategy is designed to battle terrorism and the drug trafficking that has made the nation the world’s largest cocaine producer.

Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez and the U.S. ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield, signed the accord today in Bogota, according to the ministry’s Web site. The agreement gives the U.S. access to seven Colombian military bases, W Radio reported, citing Bermudez.

“This accord looks to end drug-trafficking and terrorism in Colombia,” Bermudez told broadcaster RCN.

The plan by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has sparked criticism by neighboring Latin American nations about greater U.S. military involvement in the region. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in August called the agreement a “declaration of war,” forming part of a U.S. plan to “dominate” South America.

The U.S. will increase “technical support” to help Colombia’s fight against trafficking and terrorism, which will benefit the entire region, Bermudez told RCN. The accord isn’t aimed at bringing in U.S. troops for combat, he said.

The number of members of the U.S. military and U.S. contractors in Colombia now is at about 620 people, and has decreased in the last few years, he said. A cap on such personnel was set under Plan Colombia, the U.S. program that has provided $6 billion in mostly military aid to Colombia since 2000.

The U.S. may invest more than $46 million in the bases to patrol Pacific waters for traffickers, according to General Freddy Padilla, head of Colombia’s armed forces. The bases will help replace facilities the U.S. had in neighboring Ecuador.

Global cocaine production declined in 2008 because of a reduction in Colombian output, according to the United Nations.

For Related News and Information: Stories on emerging markets: NI EM <GO> Top stories on Latin America: TOPL <GO> Stories on armed conflict: NI WAR <GO> Stories on Colombia: EMEQ <GO> Most-read Latin American stories: MNI LATAM <GO>

Last Updated: October 30, 2009 12:59 EDT