Colombia has reversed a decision to share intelligence information with the US. Cooperation with the US Federal Police must continue F.B.Ithe Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Transnational Crimes Unit (HSI), the Colombian government said.
“There has been misinterpretation on the part of the Colombian press and some high-ranking government officials,” wrote Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti about Colombia President Gustavo Petro “never said that the US agencies FBI, DEA and HSI would no longer cooperate with our intelligence agencies in Colombia.”
Benedetti was referring to Petro’s statement on Tuesday. The President of Colombia has announced in X that he has ordered “the suspension of communication transmissions and other interactions with US security authorities.”
Drug gangs can profit from a lack of cooperation
Cocaine production in Colombia recently reached a record high United States of America considered an ally of the country in the fight against drug trafficking. The opposition and army in Colombia have described the possibility of ending cooperation with the US as unreasonable.
Experts believe that ending intelligence cooperation between the two countries will benefit armed drug groups in Colombia. This could be a setback for the US if more drugs reach the US. This country is the world’s largest target market for illegal trade Drugs.
Trump imposes sanctions on Petro
This alleged misunderstanding is motivated by increasing tensions between Colombia and the US since US President Donald Trump took office. His government has sent warships to the Caribbean and regularly attacks vessels suspected of smuggling drugs there. At least 76 people were reported killed in the attack. Petro spoke of “extrajudicial executions”. This Colombian citizen has previously angered the US government by criticizing their immigration policies.
Trump, on the other hand, imposed sanctions on Petro in late October. Trump did not provide any evidence of any wrongdoing by Colombia’s leftist president. He simply states that Petro is a “gangster and a bad person” and di Drug trafficking involved.
