Colombia's outgoing President Gustavo Petro has launched a scathing attack on US counterpart Donald Trump, accusing Washington of allying itself with the very "narco-traffickers" it claims to combat. The accusation came after Trump endorsed hard-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia's presidential election.
Petro's Accusations Against US
In an interview with AFP, Petro stated that the United States' allies in Colombia come from the "narco-paramilitary regime," describing them as "genocidal and drug traffickers." He criticized Trump for interfering in Colombia's election, saying that the US is implementing an ideological policy that divides the world.
Trump's Endorsement of De la Espriella
Trump endorsed De la Espriella, a lawyer who made a fortune representing drug-trafficking paramilitaries, fraudsters, and soccer stars. De la Espriella surprised many by defeating leftist Senator Ivan Cepeda in the first round of voting. The two will face off in a runoff on June 21.
Trump praised De la Espriella's "tremendous accomplishments in life" and his political support. De la Espriella has promised to deepen US-Colombia relations and has the backing of former President Alvaro Uribe, who is accused of colluding with paramilitaries.
Background of Conflict
Both Petro and Cepeda accuse the paramilitaries of committing a "genocide" of leftist activists, including Cepeda's father, a communist senator assassinated in 1994. The Colombian right and Trump administration accuse Petro of being soft on left-wing guerrilla groups involved in cocaine trafficking.
Petro expressed regret that figures and governments who want to fight drug trafficking are actually helping to bring crime to political power in Colombia. He accused Trump of reneging on a February agreement not to interfere in Colombia's election.
Previous Tensions
Last year, Trump imposed sanctions on Petro, calling him a "drug leader" for failing to curb cocaine production. Colombia is the world's largest cocaine producer. The two leaders clashed over migrant deportations and strikes on drug boats but smoothed tensions during Petro's visit to the White House in February.
Election Context
The election has been dominated by the worst wave of violence since the 2016 peace deal with the FARC. While Colombia has thrived, armed groups still vie for control of cocaine routes, illegal gold mining, and extortion. De la Espriella rejects Petro's negotiation policy and vows to crush guerrillas militarily. Cepeda, who helped negotiate the peace deal, prioritizes dialogue and social upliftment.
