Colombia’s Petro says US cut in military funding could pose problems

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By Luis Jaime Acosta

BOGOTA (Reuters) -Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro said on Thursday that a suspension of aid from the United States would mean nothing to his country but that changes to military funding could have an effect.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened over the weekend to raise tariffs on Colombia and said Wednesday that all funding to the country had been halted. 

Colombia was once among the largest recipients of U.S. aid in the Western Hemisphere but the flow of money was suddenly curtailed this year by the shuttering of USAID, the U.S. government’s humanitarian assistance arm. Military cooperation has continued.

“What happens if they take away aid? In my opinion, nothing,” Petro told journalists, adding that aid funding often moved through U.S. agencies and employed Americans.

But a cut to military cooperation would matter, he added.

“Now in military aid we would have some problems,” Petro said, adding that the loss of U.S. helicopters would have the gravest effect.

The Trump administration has already “decertified” Colombia’s efforts to fight drug trafficking, paving the way for potential further cuts, but some U.S. military personnel remain in the country and the two continue to share intelligence.

Petro has objected to the U.S. military’s strikes against vessels in the Caribbean, which have killed dozens of people and inflamed tensions in the region. Many legal experts and human rights activists have also condemned the actions.

Trump has responded by calling Petro an “illegal drug leader” and a “bad guy” – language Petro’s government says is offensive.

   Petro has recalled his government’s ambassador from Washington, but met with U.S. charge d’affaires in Bogota late on Sunday.

Although Trump has not announced any additional tariffs on top of the 10% rate already assessed on Colombian goods, he said on Wednesday he may take serious action against the country.

Petro said Trump is unlikely to put tariffs on oil and coal exports, which represent 60% of Colombia’s exports to the U.S., while the effect of tariffs on other industries could be mitigated by seeking alternative markets.

An increase in tariffs would flip a long-established U.S. policy stance that free trade can make legitimate exports more attractive than drug trafficking, and analysts say more duties could eventually bolster drug trafficking.

Although his government has struggled to take control of major hubs for rebel and criminal activity, Petro said it has made record seizures of 2,800 metric tons of cocaine in three years, partly through increased efforts at Pacific ports where container ships are used for smuggling.

He also repeated an accusation that Trump’s actions are intended to boost the far right in Colombia in next year’s legislative and presidential elections.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta; Additional reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb and Nelson Bocanegra; Editing by Edmund Klamann)