"Colombia has halted arms purchases from the United States, its biggest military partner, over Washington's claim that the South American country is failing to halt cocaine trafficking. Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti announced the move on Tuesday, as President Gustavo Petro accused the US of seeking to participate in the country's domestic politics and looking for a puppet president ahead of elections next year."
"US President Donald Trump on Monday decertified Colombia as an ally in the fight against drugs, accusing the country of allowing cocaine production to surge to all-time records. Though seen as a largely symbolic move, it marked another blow to Washington's alliance with Bogota after the sides clashed earlier this year over the deportation of undocumented migrants to the Latin American country."
"In a series of posts on X on Tuesday, Petro, a former leftist fighter, defended his drug war policy, insisting that his government had seized more cocaine than previous administrations. In a statement during a meeting of ministers, Petro also said Colombia will not be blackmailed by the US government, adding that he is not concerned about the US aid. We are the ones who help them, because the problem is theirs, not ours, Petro said,"
Colombia halted arms purchases from the United States following Washington's decision to decertify Colombia as an ally in the fight against drugs, citing record cocaine production. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti announced the suspension, and President Gustavo Petro accused the United States of attempting to interfere in Colombian domestic politics and seeking a puppet ahead of next year's elections. Petro defended his drug policy and said his government seized more cocaine than previous administrations. US aid for anti-narcotics efforts, roughly $380 million annually, faces uncertainty after decertification. Petro asserted Colombia would not be blackmailed and suggested the military would reduce dependence on US support.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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