Colombia Halts US Arms Deals Amid Tensions over Cocaine Trafficking Accusations

In a significant move, Colombia has suspended arms acquisitions from its primary military partner, the United States, following allegations from Washington that Colombia has not done enough to combat cocaine trafficking, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Interior Minister Armando Benedetti announced the cessation on Tuesday, reflecting President Gustavo Petro's stance against what he perceives as US interference in Colombian political affairs, especially ahead of imminent elections.

Despite the symbolic nature of Washington's move to decertify Colombia as an anti-drug ally, tensions have heightened in the bilateral relations, complicated further by disputes over the deportation of undocumented migrants.

President Petro, a former leftist fighter now in office since 2022, defended his government's narcotics policies, asserting that more cocaine has been seized under his administration than any prior ones.

He criticized US strategies, particularly an order by former President Trump to target Venezuelan vessels, labeling such actions as 'erratic.'

Petro conveyed a defiant message, indicating Colombia's intent to diminish military and financial dependence on the US. Furthermore, he underscored a necessary pivot in the US-led drug war, highlighting the socioeconomic factors at play rather than mere eradication.

Data from the United Nations corroborate a sharp increase by 70 percent in coca cultivation under Petro's government, a rise he attributes to global cocaine demand and a failing anti-drug policy.

In international relations, Petro's presidency has seen heightened conflicts, including rejecting extradition requests from the US and severing ties with Israel over its conflicts in Gaza.

(With inputs from agencies.)