Chávez & Jobim

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The regional body would coordinate defense policies, deal with internal conflicts and presumably wane Washington's influence in its "backyard." The idea gained traction after Colombia illegally launched a military operation in Ecuador to assassinate members of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People's Army (FARC-EP). The governments of Ecuador and Venezuela responded by sending troops to their countries' Colombian border, causing fear that a larger conflict could ensue.

Washington, at least in public, has supported the idea of the South American initiative.

"I not only have no problem with it, I trust Brazil's leadership and look forward to coordination with it," said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim reportedly told Rice and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley that the U.S. should "watch from the outside and keep its distance."

"This is a South American council and we have no obligation to ask for a license from the United States to do it," said Jobim during a visit to Caracas on Monday.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had previously championed the idea for members of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) to create a coordinated defense council, but believes that the two bodies can co-exist.

"I once said that if NATO exists - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - why couldn't SATO exist? The South Atlantic Treaty Organization," said Chavez. "We've placed it on the table for Latin America once again.”

Cyril Mychalejko is an editor at UpsideDownWorld.org

Photo: President Hugo Chávez and Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim (From Prensa Presidencial)