Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Colombia and US vow joint fight against drug-smuggling guerillas, Bogotá says

A police officer stands guard over packages of seized cocaine during a media presentation at the pacific port of Buenaventura, 10 August, 2017
A police officer stands guard over packages of seized cocaine during a media presentation at the pacific port of Buenaventura, 10 August, 2017 Copyright  AP Photo
Copyright AP Photo
By Gavin Blackburn
Published on Updated
Share Comments
Share Close Button

Washington and Bogotá have enjoyed security cooperation for decades but ties have deteriorated since Trump began his second term last January.

Colombia's leftist President Gustavo Petro agreed with his US counterpart Donald Trump to take "joint action" against cocaine-smuggling guerrillas on the border with Venezuela, Bogotá's interior minister said on Thursday.

The two leaders held their first phone call on Wednesday, de-escalating tensions after Trump threatened military action against Colombia following the ouster of Venezuela's leftist leader Nicolás Maduro by US forces.

Trump and Petro "committed to taking joint actions" against the National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia's last remaining major armed rebel group, Interior Minister Armando Benedetti said in an interview with Blu Radio.

Colombia accuses the ELN of launching attacks and kidnappings of Colombian soldiers and retreating to rear-base locations in Venezuela.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses supporters in a rally he called to protest comments by US President Donald Trump in Bogotá, 7 January, 2026
Colombian President Gustavo Petro addresses supporters in a rally he called to protest comments by US President Donald Trump in Bogotá, 7 January, 2026 AP Photo

Petro asked Trump "to help strike hard at the ELN on the border" with Venezuela, Benedetti said.

He said the guerrillas must "be attacked in their rear" as well as on Colombian soil.

Colombia and Venezuela share a porous 2,200-kilometre border where various armed groups vie for control of the profits from drug trafficking, illegal mining and smuggling.

Petro tried to negotiate a peace settlement with the ELN after coming to power in 2022, but his attempts stalled.

He accepted Trump's invitation to meet in Washington, despite fierce exchanges over recent days in which Trump branded Petro a drug-trafficker and the Colombian leader vowed to take up arms against any US assault.

After Petro criticised the US for seizing Maduro in Caracas during a 3 January nighttime raid, Trump told Petro to "watch his *ss".

Trump accused Petro of being "a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."

Soldiers escort rebels of the National Liberation Army (ELN) who gave themselves up upon their arrival at a military base in Cali, 16 July, 2013
Soldiers escort rebels of the National Liberation Army (ELN) who gave themselves up upon their arrival at a military base in Cali, 16 July, 2013 AP Photo

Washington and Bogotá have enjoyed security cooperation for decades, but ties have deteriorated since Trump began his second term last January.

In November, Petro ordered his nation's security forces to stop sharing intelligence with the United States, unless the Trump administration stopped its strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean.

In a message on X, Petro wrote that Colombia's military must immediately end "communications and other agreements with US security agencies."

Additional sources • AFP

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share Comments

Read more

Colombian president ready to 'take up arms' in face of Trump threats

Colombia to suspend intelligence cooperation with US over strikes on drug vessels

US expands crackdown on narco boats with deadly strike off Colombian coast