BOGOTA — US Secretary of State John Kerry's attempts to build warmer relations with two US allies in Latin America may be hindered by resentment after reports about an American spy program that widely targeted data in emails and telephone calls across the region. Kerry is visiting Brazil and Colombia this week, his first trip to South America as the Obama administration's chief diplomat. It comes at a time that disclosures by National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden could chill talks on several fronts. Those include trade and energy, and even discussions about the Oct. 23 state dinner that President Barack Obama is hosting for Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff. Kerry arrived late Sunday in Bogota, the Colombian capital. The country is holding peace talks to end a half century-old conflict with the Western Hemisphere's most potent rebel army, a rebel force diminished in strength thanks in considerable measure to US military and intelligence support. Colombia's president, Juan Manuel Santos, said Thursday that he wanted clarification from Washington on whether US intelligence-gathering in Colombia had overstepped the countries' joint operations against drug traffickers and illegal armed groups. The US has supplied Colombia with eavesdropping equipment, technicians and aerial surveillance. Santos said in an interview with The Associated Press that Vice President Joe Biden called him about the issue following revelations by Snowden that US digital snooping has targeted allies as well as foes. Santos said Biden offered a series of technical explanations. Asked if he was satisfied with them, Santos replied, “We are in that process.” — AP
