Posted on the website www.minrelext.gov.co, it states that the United States and Colombia “will establish a mechanism to determine the estimated number of flights that will have use of international airports.”

The text suggests the US military could use any of several international airports dotted across the country, including in the cities of Barranquilla, San Andres, Cartagena, Bogota, Cali, Medellin and Bucaramanga.

The 10-year deal signed last week despite fierce opposition from countries in the region — notably Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia — grants the US military access to seven military bases strategically located across Colombia.

Some 800 US troops and 600 US civilian contractors will be permitted on Colombian soil and will enjoy diplomatic immunity, which has caused an uproar among the political opposition and non-governmental organizations.

The deal, which Washington says is aimed to boost cooperation in fighting guerrillas and drug trafficking, has angered leftist South American governments wary of a strong US presence in the region.

Colombia’s neighbors Venezuela and Ecuador have been particularly outspoken in their opposition to the deal, fearful that intelligence and other operations could be carried out on their territory from Colombia.

Tensions have flared in Latin America since the deal emerged in July, with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warning that “winds of war” were blowing across the continent.