Overview

• President Donald Trump’s determination labeled Colombia as having “failed demonstrably” to meet counternarcotics obligations, the country’s first such decertification since 1997.
• The White House issued a national-interest waiver that preserves U.S. funding and cooperation for now, though roughly $380 million in annual counternarcotics aid and access to multilateral credit could be jeopardized.
• Trump blamed President Gustavo Petro’s leadership and reduced eradication as UN data showed coca cultivation reached about 253,000 hectares in 2023, while Bogotá called the accusation a factual lie and faulted U.S. policy.
• Colombia’s government said it will stop purchasing U.S. weapons in response, even as its embassy stressed that the waiver allows bilateral counternarcotics work to continue.
• The decision comes as the U.S. escalates counter-drug operations, including lethal strikes on suspected Venezuelan boats that Trump now says number three, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying recertification is possible if Colombia toughens cooperation.