Colombia Authorizes Joint Military Operations with U.S. to Combat Narcoterrorism

Under the new leadership of President Abelardo de la Espriella, Colombia has officially authorized joint military operations with the United States aimed at combating narcoterrorism. U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that Colombia will also join the Coalition Against Cartels of the Americas (A3C) as its 19th member.

Hegseth stated that President de la Espriella, whom he referred to as "President El Tigre," requested U.S. support in the fight against narcoterrorism. This authorization allows for combined military actions to dismantle terrorist networks operating within Colombia. The move signifies a significant shift in security cooperation between the two nations.

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I am proud to announce that Colombia will join the A3C, becoming the 19th member, and through the newly invested president, as our president likes to say, President El Tigre, Colombia has already requested that the Department of War join Colombia in its fight against narcoterrorism, authorizing joint military operations to destroy terrorists and terrorist networks.

Since de la Espriella's election victory, relations between Colombia and the U.S. have strengthened considerably, marking a departure from the strained period experienced under former President Gustavo Petro. Following the election of the right-wing leader, Washington has pledged political support, security cooperation, and aid to Colombia, reinforcing a close alliance between the current administrations.

The U.S. State Department previously indicated plans to allocate $1 billion to Colombia as part of a security assistance package. This package aims to bolster Colombian security forces in their fight against transnational criminal and terrorist organizations through the provision of U.S. technology, enhanced operational capabilities, and coordinated operations with American forces. Hegseth highlighted that such concrete measures exemplify the active participation sought from partners to build a potent and lethal A3C coalition.

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Strong and concrete measures like these exemplify the type of active and operational participation we seek from our partners to make the A3C a powerful and lethal coalition. Yes, we have meetings, we will coordinate, but ultimately, it is about the operations we can carry out together to protect individual sovereignty and the entirety of the hemisphere.