A diplomatic storm is brewing between Colombia and the United States, with a heated exchange of words and actions that have sparked a crisis in their long-standing alliance. This controversy revolves around deadly US strikes on boats in the Caribbean, which has led to a recall of Colombia's ambassador to Washington.
The core of the issue lies in a tragic incident where a Colombian fisherman lost his life in an attack on a vessel within Colombia's territorial waters. President Gustavo Petro accused the US of 'murdering' an innocent civilian, a 'lifelong fisherman' and a 'humble human being'. This incident has sparked a furious backlash from Petro and his administration, who view it as a direct threat to Colombia's sovereignty.
But here's where it gets controversial... Donald Trump, the former US President, responded by calling Petro an 'illegal drug dealer' and threatening to end aid payments to Colombia, one of the largest recipients of US counter-narcotics assistance. Trump ordered Petro to shut down drug cultivation sites, warning that if he didn't, the US would do it for him, and not 'nicely'. He even threatened new tariffs on Colombian goods.
Colombia's response was swift and decisive. They recalled their ambassador to the US for talks in Bogotá, with Interior Minister Armando Benedetti describing Trump's remarks as a 'threat of invasion or military action'. Petro stood firm, attributing Colombia's five-decade conflict to 'cocaine consumption in the United States' and claiming that American contributions had been negligible in recent years.
This feud has analysts worried, as it marks one of the most serious breakdowns in relations between these longtime allies. It casts a shadow over the future of security and counter-narcotics cooperation between the two nations, especially at a time when Colombia is facing its worst security crisis in a decade.
Yet Colombia is not backing down. The foreign ministry has stated that Trump's statements contain a direct threat to national sovereignty, proposing an illegal intervention in Colombian territory. This tension has its roots in Trump's second term, when he threatened tariffs and sanctions after Colombia initially refused to accept military flights carrying deportees.
The situation escalated further when the US declared Colombia 'failing' to meet its international drug control obligations, decertifying it for the first time in nearly 30 years. Colombia, the world's leading producer of cocaine, argues that the militarized 'war on drugs' has failed, and that its own policies have led to record levels of seizures.
Despite this decertification, the White House had previously stated it would continue funding and security assistance, deeming the partnership vital to US national interests. However, this weekend's events seem to have changed that stance, with Washington now threatening to slash aid.
It remains unclear what these aid cuts might entail, especially given that the US administration has already reduced some funding earlier this year. According to the Washington Office on Latin America, Colombia was initially set to receive over $400 million in aid, but with earlier cuts, they are now left with only about a quarter of that amount.
Elizabeth Dickinson, a senior analyst for the Andes region at the International Crisis Group, warns that further aid cuts would have a 'gigantic' impact, not just financially. She emphasizes the institutional relationship between the security forces of both countries, operating in tandem, sharing information, and undertaking coordinated operations that benefit both nations.
Dickinson adds that this rupture comes at a perilous moment, with Colombia facing its worst security crisis in a decade, threatened by growing armed and criminal groups. Gimena Sánchez-Garzoli, director of Wola's Andes region, agrees, stating that tensions have entered 'dangerous territory'. She warns that as Colombia is the US's most important ally in counter-narcotics efforts, it is counterproductive to attack this ally aggressively and cut further funding.
Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, has been vocal in his criticism of the US strikes on boats in the Caribbean, which legal experts have also deemed unlawful. The US has deployed naval ships, fighter jets, and drones, describing it as an 'armed conflict' with drug cartels. Since early September, there have been seven US strikes in the region, resulting in at least 32 deaths.
Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, claimed that one strike last week targeted a boat linked to the Colombian rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), but provided no evidence. Petro condemned the bombing, stating that the boat belonged to a humble family. Survivors from another strike were reported, with two men, one Colombian and one Ecuadorian, set to be repatriated by US officials. Trump claimed US intelligence confirmed the vessel was loaded with fentanyl and other illegal narcotics, but analysts note that while Colombia produces cocaine, fentanyl trafficking is largely centered in Mexico.
Petro has argued that the US 'war on drugs' is a policy to control Latin America and its resources, with attacks on Venezuela intended to secure its oil cheaply. He has accused the US of profiting from Colombia's struggle, providing the consumption while Colombia provides the money and the deaths. Petro has blamed US and European consumption for hundreds of thousands of murders in Colombia and millions of deaths in Latin America.
In a recent post, Petro shared a video of the Colombian army seizing nearly half a ton of cocaine at sea, emphasizing the operation's success without any loss of life. This incident highlights the complexities and controversies surrounding the 'war on drugs' and the delicate balance of power and interests between nations.
