Former Colombian President Duque Defends US Strikes on Drug Traffickers

Defense of US Interdiction Operations

• 💡 Iván Duque defends US military strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats, stating they are lawful when conducted with proper protocols.
• 🎯 He argues that interdiction operations, including attacks on vessels, have been a long-standing practice involving multiple countries.
• ⚠️ Duque criticizes current Colombian President Gustavo Petro's denunciation of these operations as politically motivated polarization.

Allegations Against Venezuela and the Cartel de los Soles

• 🚀 The former president asserts that Venezuela is run by a dictator who heads the Cartel de los Soles.
• 🤝 He supports precision operations by the US against these cartels, especially given Venezuela's alleged safe haven for criminal groups.
• ⚖️ Duque suggests that US operations against national security threats, like those posed by the Cartel de los Soles, are lawful under US legislation, drawing parallels to counter-terrorism operations.

Bilateral Relations and Political Rhetoric

• 💔 Duque expresses sadness over the deterioration of the US-Colombia bilateral relationship due to Petro's rhetoric, which he calls imprudent.
• 🗣️ He highlights Petro's past criticisms of Donald Trump and his support for Nicolás Maduro, contrasting it with Colombia's historical role as a strategic ally.
• 📉 Concerns are raised about Petro's policies, such as dismantling manual eradication groups and potentially creating an environment favorable to drug traffickers.

Effectiveness Against Drug Trafficking

• 📈 Duque claims that during his presidency (2015-2018), there was a reduction in drug trafficking operations after an initial exponential growth.
• 🤝 His administration extradited over 700 kingpins and captured cartel leaders, working effectively with both the Trump and Biden administrations.
• ⚠️ In contrast, he points to the current administration's policies, including citing cartel leaders as "promoters of peace," as detrimental to combating drug trafficking.