US Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Chuck Grassley consider “frightening” the “stance towards the United States” of President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and they warn that the changes in the Colombian anti-drug policy could harm the regional strategy.
(See: The government’s plan to acquire land and sell it to peasants).
In a letter released this Friday, September 23, 2022, Rubio and Grassley expose Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, their concerns about Petro and ask him to provide them with detailed information about a meeting he had with him last August.
“The drug policy and the position of President Petro towards the US is alarming. Shortly after taking office, President Petro suspended arrest warrants and extraditions for members of the National Liberation Army (ELN), a US-designated terrorist organization with approximately 3,000 active members.“, they underline in the letter released this Friday.
Marco Rubio, Republican United States Senator.
The two senators mention the peace talks that Petro It has started with the ELN and its request that Cuba be removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism drawn up by the US to support its concern.
(See: Multilateral ceasefire, the proposal that Petro will announce soon).
After pointing out that the production of cocaine finances the ELN and the terrorist activities of the FARC dissidents, they underline that Petro has publicly praised the decriminalization of cocaine and has formulated a plan to end aerial coca eradication.
They also underline that Petro reestablished diplomatic relations with the “narco-regime” of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela and his decision to serve as guarantor in the talks with the ELN.
(See: The dollar and its rise, the one pointed out by Petro to generate inflation).
Nicolas Maduro, President of Venezuela.
“Petro’s favorable actions towards actors who work closely with drug traffickers in our hemisphere call into question the Colombian president’s commitment to cooperate with the US to prevent the flow of drugs across our border“, they allege.
In the letter they mention that Gupta met in August with the newly elected Colombian president to discuss collaboration between the United States and Colombia.
(See: Petro’s call to world powers: how feasible is it?).
“President Petro now seeks to renegotiate Colombia’s alliance with the United States, which both he and President Biden disparaged as unfair. At his meeting, President Petro requested a reform in the long-standing extradition procedures of our countriesthey said.
And they added that, according to the press, proposed limiting extraditions to those charged “that they do not negotiate with the State” from Colombia.
“Not only is this limitation at odds with our current treaty, which passed with a 96-0 vote in the Senate, but it also incentivizes criminals to avoid extradition by bribing or coercing the sitting political regime.“, they added.
(See: EU works to include the country in an infrastructure investment plan).
The two senators conclude their letter by telling Gupta that they look forward to discussing their meetings with President Petro and his cabinet this month in the upper house and asking him to provide them with detailed information on a number of issues, including whether they discussed “recognition“for USA of”Maduro regime“.
EFE
