Henrik Brandão Jönsson: Cocaine, Gold, and Power Plays – Enemies Now Forced to Cooperate

The recent military cooperation agreement between Colombia and Venezuela, aimed at combating the ELN guerrilla group, represents a significant thaw in relations between two nations that have long been at odds. As Dagens Nyheter reports, this pact, which includes intelligence sharing, is a milestone after decades of strained diplomatic ties. The context for this sudden collaboration appears heavily influenced by U.S. pressure, particularly from Donald Trump, who has explicitly linked cooperation on drug interdiction to regional stability. The article suggests that Trump's administration has effectively compelled Venezuelan leadership to align with U.S. objectives, leveraging threats of military action if drug smuggling from Colombia is not curtailed. This dynamic places both left-leaning leaders, Colombia's Gustavo Petro and Venezuela's Delcy Rodríguez, in a position where cooperation with the U.S. is paramount. The ELN, now described more as a sophisticated drug cartel than a political movement, controls key cocaine production routes and illegal gold mines, posing a threat to both regional security and foreign investment. While the agreement is framed as a joint effort, the underlying U.S. influence and the potential for continued internal divisions within Venezuela's military, which has historically aided the ELN, cast a shadow over its long-term success. From our perspective in Sweden, this development is a stark illustration of how geopolitical maneuvering and the global fight against narcotics can reshape regional alliances, often with external powers dictating the terms.

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If the two left-wing leaders do not cooperate with the USA, American military will act.