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But Mr. Petro has emphasized his interdiction efforts as a way to counter Mr. Trump’s claims that he allowed cocaine to flow unchecked.
The topic reportedly came up during a phone conversation between the leaders of the two countries in January. Mr. Petro suggested that President Trump may not have known the amount of cocaine that Colombia had seized.
“The United States knows nothing about that,” he told CBS News after the phone call.
Petro has also relied on his prohibition record to push back against President Trump’s hardline anti-drug policies.
In September, President Trump and his allies announced a campaign to bomb ships suspected of carrying drugs, arguing that the strategy would be more effective than interdiction.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “Deterrence doesn’t work.” “What stops them is when you blow them up, when you eliminate them.”
Since then, the US military has bombed 47 boats, killing at least 163 people. Petro denounced the strike as “murder” and said it violated due process and international law.
He also holds out his own interdiction strategy as a more effective model.
When Colombia and the United States led a joint maritime operation in February that resulted in the seizure of nearly 10 tons of cocaine, Petro touted the results as proof that counter-drug efforts don’t need to be lethal.
“The Colombian Navy captured the submarine without killing anyone,” Petro told the Cabinet.
Still, experts say Petro has complied with U.S. demands in other areas as well.
Petro had promised not to target coca farmers, but in December security forces announced they would deploy drones to spray crops with the herbicide glyphosate.
The plan to forcefully eradicate coca crops by air faced strong local opposition due to concerns about the herbicide’s health and environmental effects.
Rueda said the measure, which has not yet been implemented, shows that Petro, like many previous presidents, has bowed to U.S. pressure.
“The U.S. government always wins,” Rueda said. “The power is always strong against us, so eventually we have to give in. Peter is no different.”
There is less uncertainty whether Mr. Petro’s decision will affect his electoral base. Protests initially erupted in coca-growing areas, but subsided after talks with the government.
Rueda suspects authorities have reassured protesters that they will not carry out fumigation, which could cost Petro the next election.
“Mr. Petro’s decision highlights his inconsistency with the policies he has put forth,” Rueda said. “In the end, however, no fumigation took place, so the political consequences are likely to have been less severe than expected.”
