Americas defence pact postponed

Defence ministers from the Americas have promised to consider US proposals for joint naval exercises and a region-wide peacekeeping force.

The ministers announced the pledge after a four-day meeting in the Chilean capital, Santiago.

In a joint communique the 34 countries taking part also promised greater co-operation in the fight against terrorism and drug-trafficking.

But the meeting will disappoint those looking for concrete action.

When the conference opened, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told his colleagues that they faced a historic opportunity.

In the post-11 September environment the need for defence co-operation and coordination is greater than ever, he said.

Mr Rumsfeld urged the conference to consider proposals like a joint naval exercises to monitor the vast coastlines, as well as a regional peacekeeping force.

Rhetoric

Given that this was a meeting of representatives from every government in the Americas apart from Cuba, there was plenty of scope for action.

The response: a declaration urging increased co-operation to tackle the twin scourges of drug-trafficking and terrorism.

There was also a pledge to support democracy as essential for regional security, and a promise to look into Washington's ideas.

It is all fine rhetoric, but short on concrete decisions.

The conference host, Chilean defence minister Michelle Bachelet, defended the lack of action, arguing that it is up to domestic governments to take the issues further.

And she insisted that the meeting had gone a long way towards generally improving regional defence co-operation.