Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered all public security forces to suspend intelligence sharing with U.S. agencies, escalating tensions between Bogotá and Washington over recent military operations in the Caribbean.
In a statement posted on X , Petro said the move will remain in place until the United States halts what he described as “attacks on boats in the Caribbean,” which he suggested were endangering lives under the guise of anti-narcotics operations.
“The fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people,” Petro wrote, signaling a shift in Colombia’s approach to its decades-long cooperation with the United States on counter-narcotics efforts.
Colombia and the U.S. have maintained close security ties for more than two decades, particularly under the framework of Plan Colombia, a joint initiative to combat drug trafficking and organized crime.
However, Petro, the country’s first leftist president, has repeatedly criticized U.S.-backed anti-drug strategies, arguing they have failed to curb production while perpetuating violence and inequality in the region.
The suspension marks one of Petro’s most direct challenges yet to U.S. policy in Latin America, potentially complicating intelligence operations that track cocaine shipments and transnational criminal networks across the Caribbean.
Washington has not yet issued an official response to the order.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
