Colombia has pledged to continue coordinating with the United States, using U.S. intelligence and technology, to fight drug trafficking despite recent diplomatic friction. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti and Justice Minister Andres Idarraga reaffirmed ongoing cooperation and said operations will target drug labs, criminal groups and camps, especially along the Colombian-Venezuelan border. Bogotá warned that any U.S. incursion would be undue interference, even as officials describe a chance to deepen international collaboration.
Colombia Says It Will Continue Working With U.S. On Drug Trafficking Despite Diplomatic Tensions
Colombia's Minister of Interior Armando Benedetti speaks to the media on the day of a debate on a labor reform proposed by Colombian President Gustavo Petro's government, at the Congress in Bogota, Colombia, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Nathalia Angarita
BOGOTA, Jan 5 (Reuters) — Colombia said on Monday it will continue cooperating with the United States, using U.S. intelligence and technology to combat drug trafficking despite recent diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Ministers Reaffirm Ongoing Cooperation
Interior Minister Armando Benedetti and Justice Minister Andres Idarraga issued a video statement released to journalists in which they pledged continued coordination with Washington. "The government of Colombia has let the U.S. government know ... that we are going to keep coordinating and cooperating in the fight against drug trafficking," Benedetti said.
Andres Idarraga: "We will continue to emphasize the fight against this scourge, particularly on the Colombian‑Venezuelan border."
Heightened Tensions With The U.S.
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions after U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday called Colombia's President Gustavo Petro "sick" and suggested a U.S. military operation in the country was possible. Over the weekend, reports said U.S. troops entered Venezuela and captured President Nicolas Maduro; Maduro later appeared in a New York court and pleaded not guilty to narcoterrorism charges.
Operational Focus And International Pressure
Benedetti said Colombia's anti‑drug operations will concentrate on drug laboratories, criminal organizations and their camps, with particular emphasis on the Colombian‑Venezuelan border. Bogotá has pushed back against Mr. Trump’s comments, calling any potential U.S. incursion "undue interference."
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez described the moment as a "golden opportunity" to strengthen international collaboration against drug trafficking. The United States has been pressing Colombia to step up its efforts after years of increased coca cultivation.
Petro's government says it has seized unprecedented amounts of cocaine, including nearly 1,000 metric tons in 2025, even as cultivation of the coca leaf—the raw material for cocaine—has risen in recent years.
Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
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