Colombia stops buying weapons from the USA. It is a reaction to the words of Trump and Rubio

Colombia suspends the purchases of weapons from the United States – said the Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti on Tuesday. This is a reaction to the decision of the US authorities, which the day before stated that they would no longer consider Bogota as an ally in the fight against drug trafficking.

Colombia, a leading world producer of cocaine, received several hundred million dollars a year as a help in the fight against drug trafficking. On Monday, the Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Bogota “was not a very good partner in the fight against drug cartels.”

In turn, US President Donald Trump said that countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Bolivia and Burma “obviously” failed in compliance with international anti -nobacco agreements over the past year, which will result in the limitation of American help for these countries.

Trump criticized the Colombian authorities for not fulfilling the obligations in the field of drug control, while thanking the security services for courage. He announced that he would consider changing his decision if the Colombia government takes more decisive actions to eliminate coca crops and limit cocaine production and trade.

In retaliation, the head of the Colombian Ministry of the Interior announced in an interview with Blu Radio that “from now (…) no weapon would be bought from the United States.” (PAP)

ZM/ Kar/