(AFP) – Colombia’s leftist president backtracked on a threat to cut decades-old intelligence ties with the United States Thursday, a move the country’s ex-spy chiefs had dubbed “unthinkable” and “absurd.”
Gustavo Petro caused shock in Bogota and Washington by abruptly ordering his government to suspend communications and “dealings with US security agencies” at all levels Tuesday. His announcement deepened a bitter personal row with President Donald Trump over US strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Pacific. Several former US and Colombian security officials expressed shock and anger at Petro’s announcement, warning it could lead to instability at home and more cocaine being exported overseas.
But on Thursday, Interior Minister Armando Benedetti — a close aide of Petro’s — said intelligence sharing would continue. He claimed there had been a “misinterpretation” of Petro’s comments. Petro then told new police officers that intelligence would be shared with the United States as long as “they commit to not using it in violation of human rights treaties.” Colombia’s security services said they were blindsided by Petro’s initial order, which was issued in the evening on social media. Petro is well known for his late-night social media posts containing typos, factual errors, or announcing initiatives that never materialize.
– ‘Makes no sense’ –
“You know how the president is — he sends a message on X, but it’s not that easy,” one lieutenant currently serving in the armed forces told AFP. The move elicited fierce reactions from Colombian ex-military and intelligence bosses. The decision was “absurd” and “makes no sense,” according to one former head of police, who spoke on condition of anonymity. He expressed fury that Petro’s decision could aid drug trafficking groups and cause the amount of cocaine exported from Colombia to “overflow.”
“How much mourning? How many widows? How many orphans? How much pain do we carry — personally, institutionally, and patriotically — because of drug trafficking?” Forged from a decades-long war against insurgents and cartels, Colombia’s military and intelligence services are seen as highly capable. They also have close ties with US agencies, from whom they have received hundreds of millions of dollars in aid. One former US intelligence official said information gleaned by Colombian officers was often vital in supporting American eavesdropping and satellite intelligence.
Petro’s announcement followed a months-long personal spat between him and Trump, who, without providing evidence, accused Petro of being involved in drug trafficking. The United States has since hit the Colombian leader and his family with financial sanctions. Petro, for his part, has gone out of his way to criticize Trump’s bombings in the Caribbean and Pacific that have sunk 20 boats and killed at least 76 people. The Trump administration is close to the right-wing opposition in Colombia, which has high hopes of winning legislative and presidential elections next year.
© 2024 AFP
