Javier Garcia, a senator from the opposition National Party and former Defense Minister, presented a motion for Lazo to appear urgently before the Senate’s Defense Committee, which was unanimously approved.

The information about the entry of US marines into the country was released by the US Embassy in Montevideo.

“We learned about it through information from the US Embassy that was made public,” the senator commented.

According to Garcia, the US marines were conducting “military exercises” in Uruguay during August, what goes against the “constitutional precept that requires, without excuse,” that the entry of any foreign military personnel should be approved by the Senate.

“These same exercises were carried out previously when I was minister,” Garcia remembered, noting that at the time the Frente Amplio “voted against it.”

Minister Lazo said she has “no problem” with being summoned to the committee and added that in that instance she will “respond appropriately.”

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