Colombia's Petro says U.S. cut in military funding could pose problems

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Thursday that a suspension of U.S. aid would make little difference to his country, although reductions in military assistance could have a tangible impact.

Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Colombia and announced on Wednesday that all funding to the country had been halted.

Colombia was once among the largest recipients of U.S. assistance in the Western Hemisphere, but the flow of money has been abruptly cut this year following the closure of USAID, Washington’s humanitarian aid agency. Military cooperation, however, has so far continued.

“What happens if they take away aid? In my opinion, nothing,” Petro told reporters, noting that such funding often passes through U.S. agencies and largely benefits Americans.

He added, however, that losing U.S. military support would be more consequential.
“Now, in military aid we would have some problems,” he said, explaining that the loss of U.S. helicopters would have the most serious consequences.

The Trump administration has already “decertified” Colombia’s efforts to combat drug trafficking, opening the door to further cuts. Nonetheless, some U.S. military personnel remain stationed in the country, and both sides continue to share intelligence.

Petro has criticised the U.S. military’s strikes against vessels in the Caribbean, which have killed dozens of people and heightened regional tensions. The operations have also drawn condemnation from legal experts and human rights groups.

Trump, in turn, has labelled Petro an “illegal drug leader” and a “bad guy” — remarks the Colombian government has described as offensive.

In response, Petro has recalled his ambassador from Washington, though he met with the U.S. chargé d’affaires in Bogotá late on Sunday.

While Trump has not announced new tariffs beyond the existing 10 percent levy on Colombian goods, he said on Wednesday that he may take “serious action” against the country.

Petro argued that Trump is unlikely to impose tariffs on oil and coal, which together account for 60 percent of Colombia’s exports to the United States, and suggested that any impact on other industries could be offset by finding alternative markets.

Such tariff increases would reverse decades of U.S. policy that sought to make legitimate trade more appealing than the narcotics trade, and analysts warn that higher duties could ultimately strengthen drug trafficking networks.

Although his government continues to face challenges in asserting control over rebel and criminal strongholds, Petro said authorities had seized a record 2,800 metric tons of cocaine in three years, partly thanks to enhanced operations at Pacific ports used for smuggling via container ships.

He also reiterated his claim that Trump’s actions are politically motivated, intended to boost Colombia’s far right ahead of next year’s legislative and presidential elections.

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