Colombia to Suspend Intelligence Cooperation with US over Strikes on Drug Vessels

Alsharq Tribune- Gina Issa 

Colombian President Gustavo Petro ordered his nation's security forces Tuesday to stop sharing intelligence with the United States, until the Trump administration stops its strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean.

In a message on X, Petro wrote that Colombia's military must immediately end “communications and other agreements with US security agencies" until the US ceases its attacks on speedboats suspected of carrying drugs, that critics have likened to extrajudicial executions.

Petro wrote that “the fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people.” It wasn't immediately clear what kind of information Colombia will stop sharing with the United States.

The White House had no immediate response to Petro’s latest statements. At least 75 people have been killed by the US military in strikes in international waters since August, according to figures supplied by the Trump administration.

The strikes began in the southern Caribbean, near Venezuela's shores, but have shifted recently to the eastern Pacific, where the US has targeted boats off Mexico.

Petro has called for US President Donald Trump to be investigated for war crimes over the strikes, which have affected citizens of Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The leftist leader has long been a critic of US drug policy, and has accused the Trump administration of going after peasants growing coca, the base ingredient of cocaine, instead of targeting major drug traffickers and money launderers.

The Trump administration has accused Petro of being soft on traffickers, and has criticized the Colombian president's decision to spare Colombian rebel leaders involved in the drug trade form extradition to the United States.

In October, the administration placed financial sanctions on Petro and members of his family, over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade.

Petro “has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement after the sanctions were issued Oct 24. “President Trump is taking strong action to protect our nation and make clear that we will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into our nation.”