US Declares Colombia Non-Cooperative in Drug War, but Maintains Aid
For the first time since 1997, the US has ranked Colombia as failing to cooperate in counter-narcotics, accusing President Petro of policies that boosted cocaine output, though US aid remains intact.
US Decertifies Colombia Over Drug Control
The US government has formally designated Colombia as failing to cooperate in the international drug war for the first time since 1997, citing record-high cocaine production under President Gustavo Petro. Despite the rebuke, US assistance to Colombia remains intact.
Dispute Over Coca Cultivation Trends
US authorities pointed to UN data showing a 10% increase in coca cultivation in 2023, while Petro’s administration attributes earlier surges to his predecessor’s term and insists that further progress requires lower demand in the US and Europe.
Political Fallout and Conditions for Re-Certification
Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti announced an immediate halt to US arms purchases in response to the decision. Washington argued that Petro’s peace talks with armed groups have impeded anti-drug efforts and warned that certification could be restored if Colombia intensifies eradication and crackdown measures.
US sanctions Colombia’s drug war cooperation for the first time in nearly 30 years, accusing Petro’s policies of fueling a cocaine boom while keeping aid intact under conditions of tougher action.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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