The Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, said on Saturday that his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolás Maduro, He has supported the fight against drug trafficking at the border and that “support has been overwhelming and must continue.”
“In relation to Venezuela, I have received support from Maduro and the General (Vladimir) Padrino, Minister of Defense, to defeat the border drug traffickers with that country“Petro wrote in his X account.
(See: One year after Petro leaves the presidency, is there a clear favorite to happen?)
Colombia and Venezuela share a porous border of 2,219 kilometers in which there is the presence of the dissidents of the FARC, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and other armed groups that They control the links of drug trafficking and the passage of undocumented people, among other crimes.
Petro today added in his publication that he does not believe that “Solution of the political problems of Venezuelans goes to make money to kill or capture political leaders“, In reference to the new reward that the United States offered for Maduro.
Last Thursday, the United States attorney general, PAM Bondi, announced a 50 million dollar reward for information that leads to Maduro’s arrest. The United States accused Maduro in 2020, during the first presidency of Donald Trump, For crimes of drug trafficking and terrorism, and in January 2025 the current administration increased the reward for its capture to 25 million dollars.
(Read more: President Petro’s approval rose up to 37%, one year after completing his government)
Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela
EFE
Fight drug trafficking respecting sovereignty
On the other hand, Petro said that, although he does not have all the information about the anti -narcotics policy of President Trump, he is in “agreement with her, based on respect for national sovereignty.” “Undoubtedly, the fight against drug traffickers must be duplicated or triple, starting with their bosses, their finances and the massive seizure of their illicit merchandise,” he said.
Petro then said: “My government has coordinated and will continue to do it with every government that really compromises in this struggle, respecting the independence of governments“President Trump defended Troops against drug posters in Latin America on Friday to” protect “his country.
All of the above occurs at a time when Petro has said that “national sovereignty exists”, in response to the secret order that, according to The New York Times, Trump signed, Trump signed Instructing the Pentagon to use military force against drug trafficking posters in Latin America.
(See also: Minhacienda demanded changes to the Fonpet approved in Congress)
The United States accused Maduro in 2020, during the first presidency of Donald Trump, for crimes of drug trafficking and terrorism.
Istock
According to the New York newspaper, The presidential order would provide a legal basis for the US armed forces to carry out direct military operations and unilateral in foreign territory against posters.
In February, Trump’s government declared several Latin American posters, but none Colombianalthough shortly before The New York Times had revealed a list that included the Gulf clan, the most powerful armed group in Colombia and today in dialogues with the Petro government.
Colombia is the main world cocaine producer and, according to the latest annual report of the United Nations Office against Drug and Crime (UNODC, acronym in English), It concentrates 253,000 of the 376,000 hectares of coca crops in the world, that is, two thirds.
(See: Peru clarifies to Colombia that there is nothing to talk about sovereignty of Amazon Island)
EFE
