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Colombia Clarifies U.S. Intelligence Ties Continue After Petro’s Conditional Pause

Interior Minister Armando Benedetti says cooperation on crime and counternarcotics remains in place, with future sharing tied to guarantees of lawful use.

Overview

  • President Gustavo Petro had ordered a temporary halt to intelligence exchanges in response to U.S. military strikes on boats in Caribbean and Pacific waters.
  • The government now calls initial reports of a full cutoff a misinterpretation by media and some officials, emphasizing ongoing collaboration.
  • Petro states Colombia will share information only if it is used strictly for lawful anti-narcotics operations that respect human rights.
  • The clarification keeps day-to-day counternarcotics coordination intact within the long-running U.S.–Colombia security partnership.
  • The episode underscores Bogotá’s push for human rights safeguards and legal assurances in regional security operations.