Kerry Travels to Brazil as NSA Spying Controversy Lingers

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry visits Brazil Tuesday, in part as an effort to address concerns in Latin America over Washington’s controversial surveillance program.

Brazil’s O Globo newspaper reported recently that the U.S. National Security Agency included Colombia and Brazil in its tracking of telephone and Internet communications.

In the Colombian capital Bogata Monday, Kerry said the U.S. is engaged in very complex efforts to stop terrorists from killing people in many different places. He said he was confident he was able to explain the legality of the spying and its intentions, and said the NSA program was a “very small” part of his talks in Colombia.

Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin told reporters she received what she calls the “necessary assurances” that allow Colombia and the U.S. to keep working together on the matter.

Kerry also pledged U.S. support for Colombia’s efforts to negotiate an end to the 50 year-long battle with leftist FARC rebels.