For years, the US and Colombia have enjoyed a close partnership focused on combating drug trafficking. However, political clashes between US President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have jeopardized this alliance. Recent accusations of drug encouragement and military strikes highlight the growing rift, prompting fears of increased organized crime and security breaches. Experts warn that both countries' efforts in fighting narcotics could be severely undermined, benefitting criminal organizations at their expense.
For decades it was one of Washington's closest alliances. United in their fight against drug trafficking, Colombia and the United States co-operated closely, with the latter receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in US military assistance annually. But now that alliance appears to be more fragile than ever.
The leaders of the two countries may have a similar style - forceful and not prone to mincing their words - but left-wing Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump come from opposing ends of the political spectrum and have clashed frequently since Trump returned to the White House in January.
On Sunday, tensions reached their highest point when Trump accused Petro of encouraging drug production in Colombia and announced the suspension of payments and subsidies to the South American country. This came after Petro had in turn accused US officials of murdering a Colombian citizen and violating his country's sovereignty in one of the multiple strikes that the US military has carried out against alleged drug vessels in the Caribbean since early September.
BBC Mundo spoke to experts who warned that with the alliance in jeopardy, both Colombia and the US could be at risk of losing out while organised crime groups look set to benefit.
Roots of the US-Colombia Alliance
Colombia became one of the main beneficiaries of US aid in the early 2000s, with the money going towards Plan Colombia - a US-funded initiative to combat drug trafficking groups, reduce the flow of drugs to the US, and strengthen the Colombian security forces. This investment is credited with weakening the Farc guerrilla group, which was at war with the state before officially demobilising in 2016. Since then, US assistance has been reduced - and has been coming under questioning.Eroding Support
Military aid is not the only funding Colombia has received from the US in recent decades. With the help of USAID - Washington's foreign policy and development aid agency - Colombia launched several peace and growth projects, especially in poor and conflict-ridden areas. But earlier this year, the Trump administration announced the de facto dismantling of the agency. Colombia, USAID's largest beneficiary in the region, saw many of its initiatives cancelled and dozens of jobs lost...'Devastating Blow'
Elizabeth Dickinson, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, warns that the current deterioration in relations and cuts in aid could severely weaken the Colombian security forces' ability to combat armed groups. As both nations find themselves at a crossroads, experts stress that the recent conflict and potential disengagement could mean only one thing - a greater opportunity for organized crime.
