JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump has put countries such as Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia, and Venezuela on the list of countries the United States believes have "really failed" in enforcing anti-narcotic agreements over the past year.
A decision that could affect funding for these countries comes after Trump said the US military carried out an attack on Venezuelan drug vessels suspected of being the second attack in recent weeks.
"I hereby declare Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia, and Venezuela have been proven to fail over the past 12 months to comply with their obligations under international anti-narcotic agreements," Trump said.
The statement is stated in the presidential decree he submitted to the US Congress, which emphasizes US assistance to these countries as "vital" for its interests.
The cultivation of koka and cocaine production in Colombia has "upgraded to an all-time high under President Gustavo Petro, and its failed attempts to find a deal with terrorist narcotics groups have only exacerbated the crisis," the statement said.
Petro took office in 2022 by promising deals with armed groups, but last year changed his strategy, pledging to tame koka-producing regions with massive social and military interventions. The strategy has produced little success.
Trump blamed Colombia's political leadership for failing to fulfill its drug control obligations, but thanked its security personnel for their courage.
"I will consider changing this designation if the Colombian government takes more aggressive action to eradicate koka and reduce production and trade in cocaine," Trump said.
Trump previously threatened to "revocation of certification" Petro's drug control efforts for being deemed ineffective and Republican lawmakers have expressed support for a sharp cut in non-military aid for the country.
Petro regretted the decision, which he said was taken after dozens of deaths by Colombian police, soldiers and civilians fighting human trafficking.
"What we are doing is not really related to the Colombian people," he said in a televised cabinet meeting.
"On the other hand, the goal is to stop Americans from falling into the desire to work, work and work," he added, apparently referring to the effects of cocaine stimulants.
Colombian Ambassador to Washington, Daniel Garcia-Pena, told reporters last week that US funding had been hit hard by the disbandment of USAID and the US could choose to cut about $100 million programs that are not focused on drug trafficking if Trump decides to revoke Colombia's certification.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is "leading one of the world's largest cocaine trade networks," Trump said in his determination, adding that the United States would continue to try to drag him to court.
The Trump administration firmly accuses Maduro of running a drug trafficking organization, a charge that Caracas has always strongly denied, accusing Trump of seeking regime change through increasing military power in the Caribbean.
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