(AFP) – The head of US Southern Command visited Colombia on Wednesday to discuss joint operations against narco-traffickers with the administration of new right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella, an ally of President Donald Trump. De la Espriella took office on August 7 promising to crack down hard on his country’s myriad cocaine-smuggling guerrilla factions, with Washington’s help. Colombia is the world’s biggest cocaine producer.
De la Espriella replaced former left-wing president Gustavo Petro, who had a tempestuous relationship with Trump. After his election, Colombia joined Trump’s Shield of the Americas anti-cartel alliance. Writing on X on Wednesday, Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said its chief General Francis L. Donovan traveled to Bogota to “meet with the nation’s new military leaders to discuss joint efforts to combat narco-terrorists and strengthen the U.S.-Colombia security partnership.”
SOUTHCOM coordinates U.S. military operations for Latin America and the Caribbean from Florida. It labeled Colombia a “longstanding partner in the fight against cartels and a vital regional security leader.” De la Espriella defeated a leftist candidate in June elections with hard-line promises to break off peace talks with Colombia’s armed groups and crush them militarily instead, with US support.
Colombia has since authorized joint military operations with the United States against drug traffickers. Washington, meanwhile, has announced plans to allocate $1 billion toward Colombia’s security.
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