Colombia's cartels produce the most cocaine in the entire world. The country's government has long been a loyal cooperation partner in what the US calls the "war on drugs".
But Trump's government in the US is now cutting off the cooperation.
Colombia has been a great partner, says Foreign Minister Marco Rubio to the media during an ongoing trip to the Middle East.
– Unfortunately, they now have a president who, apart from being unpredictable, has not been a very good partner when it comes to dealing with the drug cartels.
Rubio, who himself has a Cuban background, is notoriously hostile to left-wing rule, especially in Latin America. Both he and his boss, President Trump, are now pointing out left-wing President Petro as the problem.
I think there are willing partners, if it had been up to the military, the police. We have worked with them for decades.
Also at stake is believed to be that Petro did not want to cooperate in the wave of deportations to Latin America that the Trump administration initiated at the change of power in the US last winter.
The US supports countries that participate in the "war on drugs" economically. In Colombia's case, it has recently been about 380 million dollars (3.5 billion kronor) per year, money that is now potentially at risk.
