Colombia halts US arms purchases after drug fight delisting
Colombia has announced it will stop buying military equipment from the United States following Washington’s move to decertify the country as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking. President Gustavo Petro affirmed that Colombia’s Armed Forces will now rely on domestically sourced weapons or purchases from other international partners rather than depend on U.S. arms.
The decertification, issued by President Donald Trump’s administration, labels Colombia among nations that have “failed demonstrably” to meet their commitments to international counternarcotics efforts. Despite Colombia being added to the list, the United States applied a waiver to prevent the immediate removal of aid, citing national security interests.
Colombia’s interior minister declared that from now on, “weapons will not be purchased from the United States,” describing the decision as necessary to protect national sovereignty. He added that U.S. decertification amounts to interference in Colombia’s internal affairs. The government plans to procure arms from non-U.S. sources and increase its own manufacturing capacity.
The announcement marks a sharp turn in the bilateral relationship, which for decades included substantial U.S. military cooperation, funding, and equipment to help Colombia combat drug cartels and guerrilla groups. Experts warn the disruption could affect Colombia’s ability to sustain certain security operations in rural and coca-growing regions.
President Petro criticized the U.S. decision, saying Colombia has lost many lives in its efforts against cocaine trafficking and that being “decertified” despite those sacrifices is unjust. He has called on global partners to respect Colombia’s autonomy in choosing how to defend its territory.
