Colombia Halts Intel Sharing with US After Drug War Blunder

**Colombia Halts Intelligence Sharing with US Over Controversial Drug Vessel Strikes**

Colombia Halts Intel Sharing with US After Drug Wa...

Bogotá, Colombia – In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered an immediate suspension of intelligence cooperation with the United States, citing concerns over the Trump administration's lethal strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. The move marks a significant deterioration in relations between the two nations, historically close allies in the war on drugs.

President Petro announced the decision via

President Petro announced the decision via X, stating that Colombia's military must cease "communications and other agreements with U.S. security agencies" until the U.S. halts its operations targeting speedboats suspected of carrying narcotics. He characterized the strikes as potentially amounting to extrajudicial killings and emphasized the need to prioritize human rights in the fight against drug trafficking. "The fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people," Petro asserted.

The specific details of the intelligence sharing to be suspended remain unclear, but the implications are potentially far-reaching, given the long-standing collaboration between the two countries in combating drug cartels. The White House has yet to respond to Petro's announcement.

The controversy stems from a series of U.S. military strikes in international waters, which, according to figures released by the Trump administration, have resulted in at least 75 deaths since August. Initially focused on the southern Caribbean near Venezuelan shores, the strikes have recently shifted to the eastern Pacific, targeting vessels off the coast of Mexico.

Petro has been a vocal critic

Petro has been a vocal critic of the U.S. policy, even calling for President Trump to be investigated for potential war crimes. He argues that the strikes have disproportionately affected citizens of Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Colombian president has long advocated for a shift in U.S. drug policy, accusing the Trump administration of focusing on coca farmers rather than targeting major drug traffickers and money launderers. He recently met with the family of a Colombian fisherman allegedly killed in one of the strikes, highlighting the potential for innocent victims. "He may have been carrying fish, or he may have been carrying cocaine, but he had not been sentenced to death," Petro stated during a recent summit. "There was no need to murder him."

The Trump administration, in turn, has accused Petro of being lenient towards drug traffickers, further fueling the diplomatic rift. The suspension of intelligence sharing represents a significant turning point in the relationship between Colombia and the United States, raising concerns about the future of their joint efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.