Colombia's Ex-President Ivan Duque on US-Colombia Tensions and Drug Trafficking

US-Colombia Diplomatic Tensions

• 🇨🇴 Colombia recalled its ambassador to the U.S. following escalating tensions over U.S. military strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean.
• 🗣️ Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused President Trump of murdering a Colombian fisherman in one of these strikes, while Trump labeled Petro an 'illegal drug dealer'.
• 💔 Ivan Duque, former President of Colombia, believes Petro is attempting to dismantle a long-standing bilateral relationship and influence the 2026 election.

Accusations and Sovereignty

• ⚖️ Petro has accused the U.S. of violating Colombian sovereignty with the strikes.
• ❓ Duque questions the evidence behind Petro's murder accusation, stating he has not seen proof.
• 🎯 Duque suggests Petro is exaggerating the situation to create a "patriotic" stance and polarize the upcoming election.

Counter-Narcotics Operations

• 🤝 Colombia and the U.S. have a history of joint interdiction efforts against drug trafficking in the Caribbean, such as the Orion campaign.
• 🚢 Duque asserts that bombardments are typically based on fighting narcotics and that vessels or planes failing to comply with military intervention are subject to such actions.
• 🇺🇸 Duque acknowledges that U.S. strikes might be lawful under U.S. law, especially when interdicting vessels carrying narcotics from Venezuela, which is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.

Impact of Aid and Tariffs

• 📉 Trump has threatened to cut U.S. aid to Colombia, which was previously reduced.
• 💸 Duque warns that tariffs, which Trump has also threatened, could harm Colombia's private sector and lead to job losses.
• 🚫 Duque calls for individualized sanctions rather than collective punishment that would negatively impact the Colombian economy.

Maintaining Bilateral Relations

• 🌐 Duque emphasizes the importance of maintaining the bipartisan, bicameral, and historic relationship between the U.S. and Colombia, which spans over 200 years.
• 🗣️ He notes that parallel diplomacy is being conducted by mayors, governors, and former presidents to preserve this strong relationship.
• 🚫 Duque urges against allowing Petro's actions to unilaterally break the established ties between the two nations.