U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that Colombia has authorized the United States to carry out joint military operations on Colombian territory as part of the two countries’ efforts to combat drug trafficking and what Washington describes as “narcoterrorism.”
Hegseth made the announcement during a meeting of an international anti-drug coalition, saying Colombia’s newly inaugurated president, Abelardo de la Espriella, had requested U.S. military cooperation. According to Hegseth, the authorization would allow joint operations aimed at targeting armed groups and criminal networks.
The announcement follows de la Espriella’s pledge to confront drug-trafficking organizations and criminal groups without negotiations. The U.S. State Department has also announced plans for $1 billion in security assistance for Colombia. Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, while the United States is its largest consumer.
