"The Trump administration on Monday added Colombia to a list of nations failing to cooperate in the drug war for the first time in almost 30 years, a stinging rebuke to a traditional U.S. ally that reflects a recent surge in cocaine production and fraying ties between the White House and the country's leftist president. Even as it determined that Colombia had failed to comply with its international counternarcotics obligations,"
"Nonetheless, it is a major step against one of the United States' staunchest allies in Latin America, which analysts said could hurt the economy and further hamper efforts to restore security in the countryside. President Gustavo Petro, who has said on several occasions that whisky kills more people than cocaine, lamented Trump's decision during a televised cabinet meeting Monday, saying Colombia was penalized after sacrificing the lives of "dozens of policemen, soldiers and regular citizens, trying to stop cocaine" from reaching the United States."
"The U.S. last added Colombia to the list, through a process known as decertification, in 1997 when the country's cartels - through threats of violence and money - had poisoned much of the nation's institutions. "Decertification is a blunt tool and a huge irritant in bilateral relations that goes well beyond drug issues and makes cooperation far harder in any number of areas," said Adam Isacson, a security researcher at the Washington Office on Latin America. "That's why it's so rarely used.""
The United States designated Colombia as failing to cooperate in the international drug war for the first time in nearly 30 years amid a surge in cocaine production and strained bilateral ties. The U.S. government determined Colombia did not meet counternarcotics obligations but issued a waiver to avoid automatic sanctions, citing vital U.S. national interests. Analysts warned the designation could damage Colombia's economy and hinder rural security restoration. President Gustavo Petro criticized the move, emphasizing Colombian sacrifices to stop drug flows. Decertification is rare and historically provokes broader diplomatic friction beyond drug policy.
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