The suspension of financial aid by the United States to Colombia has no implications for the country, the Colombian president said this Thursday. Gustavo Petroat a press conference in Bogotá.
However, the president pointed out that the suspension of military aid Yes it would have consequences.
“What happens if they take away our help? In my opinion nothing, we will have specific problems,” said Petro from the headquarters of the Presidency. “This aid goes to the NGOs managed by USAID outside the Government, generally of North American origin, it is help for themselves, it is help for employment in the United States.”
“Now, in the military aid Well, we have some problems,” he added. “If they take away the aid, they threaten to take away the helicopters, that would be the biggest problem point.”
The tense relations between Bogotá and Washington are at their worst due to fierce exchanges of statements between Trump and Petro, which were intensified by the US military attacks against vessels that supposedly transport drugs in the Caribbean Sea and more recently in the Pacific Ocean.
Since the beginning of September, US military forces have carried out seven bombings on ships in the Caribbean and two in the Pacific, which have left at least 37 people dead, as part of the Trump Government’s offensive against drug trafficking, which has raised tensions between the United States and Venezuela and Colombia.
Earlier on Thursday, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaumshowed his disagreement with the attacks carried out by the United States.
Petro, who will leave the Presidency in August 226, has maintained tense relations with Trump since the Republican returned to the White House for the second time in January.
The United States decertified Colombia’s anti-drug fight in September and then canceled Petro’s visa after he joined a pro-Palestinian rally in New York and urged American soldiers to disobey Trump’s orders.
COLOMBIA WOULD MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF TARIFFS
Colombia would mitigate the impact of tariffs
Meanwhile, Petro said it is unlikely that Trump imposes tariffs on oil and coalwhile pointing out that Colombia could mitigate the effect on other export products.
The president indicated that 10% of Colombia’s exports to the United States would be affected by a possible increase in tariffs by Trump.
Colombia currently pays a 10% tariff on most of its exports to the United States, the base level that Trump imposed on many other countries.
Colombia was once one of the largest recipients of US aid in the Western Hemisphere, but the flow of money was drastically reduced this year after the closure of USAID, the Washington government’s humanitarian assistance agency.
The Military Forces and the National Police of Colombia receive important resources from the United States to finance the maintenance of aircraft and units that confront drug trafficking and illegal armed groups such as leftist guerrillas.
