US Interference in Colombia*
De La Espriella owes his country a detailed explanation of what the plan for joint military operations with Washington means.
On Wednesday, Abelardo de la Espriella, the new president of Colombia, announced the number of people affected by the earthquake that struck the west of his country. At about the same time, the U.S. made another important announcement. During a meeting of Donald Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” coalition in Panama, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revealed that De la Espriella had authorized “joint military operations”** with Washington in his country to “destroy terrorists and terror networks."**
The key word is “joint." For decades, the intelligence and security services of both countries have cooperated in operations against drug trafficking. At the beginning of the century, Washington financed “Plan Colombia,” which weakened the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. During Gustavo Petro’s mandate, this collaboration decreased significantly. De la Espriella has promised a realignment with the White House, but a return to cooperation is very different from talking about joint operations. Who will be in charge? Who will take responsibility for the decisions and consequences of those decisions? Does the plan include deployment of U.S. troops in Colombian territory? Will there be warships in Colombia’s waters? Fighter jets in their airspace? Hegseth has shared the news, but not the details. Nor has De la Espriella.
The secretary of defense later posed with the new Colombian Minister of Defense, retired General Jorge Mora, signing a declaration marking the official entry of Colombia into the “Shield of the Americas." Colombia is the 19th country to join the coalition of presidents from the region, including several from the far right. Under U.S. leadership, the aim of the alliance is to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. In neighboring Ecuador, Daniel Noboa's government approved the same kind of operation, but the Ecuadorian people put a stop to it in a referendum when he proposed reopening U.S. bases in the country. Nobody has asked the Colombian people what they think.
Opponents of the president, but also former military officers, immediately argued that the president should ask for authorization from the Senate. However, aside from the question of legality, they do not see any justification in putting Colombian sovereignty in doubt. Juan Carlos Buitrago, a retired general of police, said: “At no point should the development of operations involving U.S. troops on Colombian soil be contemplated. That would constitute a clear unlawful intervention.” For him, cooperation should be limited to matters of intelligence, logistics and training.
De la Espriella was chosen by millions of Colombians on the promise of combating the armed groups that grew stronger under the previous government. But the president still owes the Senate and the people basic details about the new “Plan Colombia” that he wants before it is unveiled by Washington.
*Editor's note: This article is available in its original language with a paid subscription.
**Editor's note: These quotes, though accurately translated, could not be independently verified.
On Wednesday, Abelardo de la Espriella, the new president of Colombia, announced the number of people affected by the earthquake that struck the west of his country. At about the same time, the U.S. made another important announcement. During a meeting of Donald Trump’s “Shield of the Americas” coalition in Panama, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth revealed that De la Espriella had authorized “joint military operations”** with Washington in his country to “destroy terrorists and terror networks."**
The key word is “joint." For decades, the intelligence and security services of both countries have cooperated in operations against drug trafficking. At the beginning of the century, Washington financed “Plan Colombia,” which weakened the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. During Gustavo Petro’s mandate, this collaboration decreased significantly. De la Espriella has promised a realignment with the White House, but a return to cooperation is very different from talking about joint operations. Who will be in charge? Who will take responsibility for the decisions and consequences of those decisions? Does the plan include deployment of U.S. troops in Colombian territory? Will there be warships in Colombia’s waters? Fighter jets in their airspace? Hegseth has shared the news, but not the details. Nor has De la Espriella.
The secretary of defense later posed with the new Colombian Minister of Defense, retired General Jorge Mora, signing a declaration marking the official entry of Colombia into the “Shield of the Americas." Colombia is the 19th country to join the coalition of presidents from the region, including several from the far right. Under U.S. leadership, the aim of the alliance is to combat terrorism and drug trafficking. In neighboring Ecuador, Daniel Noboa's government approved the same kind of operation, but the Ecuadorian people put a stop to it in a referendum when he proposed reopening U.S. bases in the country. Nobody has asked the Colombian people what they think.
Opponents of the president, but also former military officers, immediately argued that the president should ask for authorization from the Senate. However, aside from the question of legality, they do not see any justification in putting Colombian sovereignty in doubt. Juan Carlos Buitrago, a retired general of police, said: “At no point should the development of operations involving U.S. troops on Colombian soil be contemplated. That would constitute a clear unlawful intervention.” For him, cooperation should be limited to matters of intelligence, logistics and training.
De la Espriella was chosen by millions of Colombians on the promise of combating the armed groups that grew stronger under the previous government. But the president still owes the Senate and the people basic details about the new “Plan Colombia” that he wants before it is unveiled by Washington.
*Editor's note: This article is available in its original language with a paid subscription.
**Editor's note: These quotes, though accurately translated, could not be independently verified.
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