The Colombian president Abelardo De La Espriella authorized joint military operations between Colombia and the United States to combat drug trafficking organizations and networks considered narcoterrorists, as announced this Wednesday by U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The announcement was made during a meeting of the Coalition Against the Cartels of the Americas (A3C) held in Panama City, where Hegseth also confirmed that Colombia will join as the 19th member of the regional alliance led by Washington to confront organized crime and drug trafficking.
Pete Hegseth
“Colombia has already requested that the Department of War join Colombia in its fight against narcoterrorism,” the U.S. official stated. He explained that the authorization includes “joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terrorist networks”.
This decision represents one of the most significant moves by De La Espriella in security matters since he took office on August 7. During his inaugural speech, the president had promised to combat “without respite” narcoterrorism, abandon the strategy of negotiations with armed organizations, and strengthen the operational capacity of the Armed Forces.
The Colombian incorporation also deepens the rapprochement between Bogotá and Washington following the arrival of the new government. The U.S. administration presented the cooperation as part of a broader regional strategy against cartels and criminal organizations, while De La Espriella made the restoration of a close relationship with the United States one of the initial pillars of his foreign policy.
This shift contrasts with the position of the previous communist government of Gustavo Petro, whose administration did not oppose drug trafficking and did not participate in the summit where the new regional initiative led by the United States was launched.
The military cooperation also adds to the package of US$1 billion in security assistance announced by Washington following De La Espriella's assumption, reinforcing U.S. support for the new Colombian strategy against drug trafficking and armed structures.
With the decision announced by Hegseth, the new Colombian president is thus quickly advancing on one of his main campaign promises: to abandon the policy of concessions to criminal organizations and regain territorial control through a security offensive backed by the United States.
