Former Colombian President Andrés Pastrana (1998-2002) is concerned by the unprecedented joint naval exercises between Russia and Venezuela which will take place in the Caribbean Sea in late November, according to a statement issued on Sunday by local newspapers.

"There are some difficult issues as the deployment of a Russian fleet in the region. I read in Newsweek that the nuclear arsenal aboard the coming Russian vessels almost doubles the amount that provoked the missile crisis in Cuba," Pastrana told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo.

Pastrana urged Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermúdez to clarify some questions: "Where is going to operate the Russian fleet? Are they going to perform exercises in claimed waters? What will be Colombia's reaction?"

In addition, Pastrana invited Bermúdez to convene the Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee, which is comprised by the former Colombian presidents, to address the issue.

"The fact that a top official of Alvaro Uribe's government, whom I asked what would be Colombia's reaction, has answered to me: "we already talked to the Americans" called my attention. Then, are we going to bring the Cold War to the Gulf? asked the former president.