Colombia's new defense minister has warned the Trump administration that the possible inclusion of his country on a blacklist due to its inability to stop drug exports will lead to an even greater influx of cocaine into the United States, AFP reported, quoted by BTA.
According to Pedro Sanchez, a possible “breakdown of relations and cooperation“ between the two countries would be “an opportunity for drug trafficking“.
Washington is currently considering the possibility of removing Colombia from its list of partners in the fight against drugs – a decision that could lead to the suspension of US aid to the country, amounting to several hundred million dollars.
Such a measure would mean that Colombia would lose “simply the ability to deter the threat“ posed by drug trafficking, Sanchez warned in an interview with AFP.
“The inability to control it would be contrary to US interests. In fact, it would lead to an even greater influx of cocaine, and the United States would not become stronger, more prosperous, or more secure“, he stressed.
Sánchez, who took office in early March, also assured that the authorities intend to fight “with all the forces of the state“ against the guerrilla group National Liberation Army (ELN), which Bogota accuses of acting in the service of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel.
He also pledged to regain control of a region in the south of the country where coca is grown, which is currently under the rule of the Estado Mayor Central - a faction that emerged from the former guerrilla group FARC.
“In the fight against drugs, we will have to make many sacrifices, there will be tears, but in the end we will succeed”, he said.
President Trump has taken a tough stance against drugs entering the United States through Mexico and Canada, and has imposed tariffs on both countries in retaliation.
Including Colombia on the blacklist would jeopardize nearly half a billion dollars in annual US funding.
The United States has already removed Colombia from its list in the last century. This happened during the administration of President Ernesto Camper, who was accused of receiving money from the Cali cartel for his 1994 election campaign.