U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the administration of former President Gustavo Petro in a joint statement with Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella in Barranquilla on Tuesday.
Rubio said the new administration was facing problems inherited from the previous four years. He said Colombia had to address the consequences of decisions made in the past, adding that the United States had also faced mistakes inherited from the past when his administration took office and that the two countries were undergoing a similar process.
Security partnership with the United States to expand
The Barranquilla Accords, announced after the summit, envisaged expanding Colombia’s security capacity. The plan aims to develop the capacity of the Colombian Armed Forces in advanced aviation, air defense, radar networks, unmanned aerial vehicles, cyber defense and special forces operations.
De La Espriella announced the goal of making Colombia the United States’ leading partner in regional security. Rubio said strengthening Colombia’s security would protect U.S. national interests.
Rubio said the security threats facing Colombia and the United States were connected to the same criminal networks and groups.
Comprehensive plan against drug networks
De La Espriella announced that a more comprehensive campaign against drug trafficking and transnational cartels would be launched. He said the campaign would target drug laboratories, precursor chemicals used in production, trafficking routes, organization leaders and armed drug groups.
The Colombian government said aerial eradication of drug production sites would resume. Prosecuting money launderers, seizing illicit assets and expanding judicial and financial intelligence sharing with U.S. agencies were also included among the plan’s priorities.
Agreement on critical mineral supplies
Before the joint statements, Colombian Foreign Minister Omar Bula and Rubio signed a strategic memorandum of understanding aimed at securing supply chains for critical minerals and rare-earth elements.
