Bolivia Will Denounce US Bases in Region at UN Security Council

Bolivian President Evo Morales said Thursday he will raise the issue of U.S. military bases in Latin America at the United Nations Security Council after his country was recently elected to occupy one of the non-permanent seats.

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Morales argued that the end of the conflict between the Colombian state and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia — the region's last remaining armed conflict — means that the United States no longer has an excuse to have bases in the region.

The Bolivian president said he would also seek to bring up the issue of colonization in Puerto Rico and the oppression of Palestinians.

Despite Morales' eagerness to tackle major topics at the Security Council, he was nonetheless realistic about his expectations at the notoriously undemocratic forum.

“With a single vote I do not know if we will stop, avoid there being interventions, invasions,” said Morales.

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China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the United States are the only five permanent members of the council and the only members with the power to veto resolutions.

10 non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms. Bolivia secured a seat on the Security Council last month, after running unopposed and having the support of the region. 

Bolivia's two-year term begins in 2017.

More than 60 U.N. member states have never been in the Security Council.

The Security Council is one of the most powerful bodies in the U.N., and can impose sanctions, endorse peace agreements and authorize use of military force in any country.