Trump decertifies Colombia’s anti-drug efforts amid growing tensions with Petro
On Monday, September 15, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced that Washington had decertified Colombia in its anti-drug efforts.
The U.S. government confirmed that Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia, and Venezuela are now on its list of countries that have “failed demonstrably” to meet their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements over the past year.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the decision reflects record levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia, as well as what Washington considers failed negotiations with armed groups involved in the drug trade. The State Department added that Colombia could be removed from the list if Petro’s government adopts “aggressive measures” to eradicate coca, curb trafficking, and hold criminal networks accountable.
Petro, in a televised cabinet meeting, criticised the move, saying that Colombia had paid a high price in lives lost among police, soldiers, and civilians trying to stop cocaine from reaching international markets.
The decertification could restrict funding and cooperation in the fight against criminal organisations such as the Clan del Golfo, the ELN, and dissident factions of the FARC. It also marks a setback in relations between Washington and Bogotá, which have historically maintained close security ties.
This is not the first time Colombia has faced decertification: the last occurred in 1996 and 1997, during the presidency of Ernesto Samper, who was accused of accepting illicit drug money for his campaign.
Relations between Trump and Petro have been strained for months. In July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recalled his chargé d’affaires in Bogotá after what he called “baseless” statements from Colombian officials. Earlier this year, the two leaders clashed over Colombia’s refusal to accept U.S. military deportation flights, prompting Trump to threaten tariffs and sanctions.
Despite the tensions, the United States remains Colombia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $33.8 billion in 2023 under a free trade agreement in force since 2006.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
