WASHINGTON – The American republican congressman Mario Díaz-Balart presented a bill that drastically cuts the aid No military a Colombia Because he considers that President Gustavo Petro’s government has not used it “effectively.”
The proposal of the Assignments Commission of the House of Representatives, of which Díaz-Balart is vice president, tune in with the agenda of Republican President Donald Trump.
This bill “makes it very clear that the days of a weak American foreign policy have ended,” said Díaz-Balart this Wednesday in Congress.
“They are cut, condition or retain funds to countries that no longer promote common interests, such as Colombia, due to the objective failures of the Petro Administration in the prevention of political violence, which generates economic and emboldener deterioration to transnational crime,” he added.
The congressman prepared a report that explains the bill for the fiscal year that ends on September 30, 2026. It must still be discussed in a plenary session in the House of Representatives and then pass to the Senate.
“Malignant relationships”
The report criticizes Petro for not having “managed to use the help of the United States” and therefore reduces funds “by 50% compared to fiscal year 2025 for non -military assistance.”
In addition, he denounces “harmful policies, the erratic behavior and the Malignant Relations of the Petro Administration“
It also quotes an increase in drug use, “even at the highest levels of the government”, the “deterioration” of security and “the growing political volatility”, as “demonstrates the recent attempt to murder of the opposition senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe” in June.
He is also worried “that armed actors and criminal organizations They recover lost territory. “
Under the magnifying glass
The text criticizes “judicial irregularities in the case against former president Álvaro Uribe”, judged for allegedly pressing paramilitaries to keep silence about their alleged relationship with the antiguerrilla squadrons.
The situation in Colombia was under the magnifying glass this Wednesday in an informative session of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
Democratic congressman James P. McGovern warned about the impact of Trump administration cuts.
“What worries me most (…) is that we have moved away from our leadership role in the support and investment in the consolidation of peace in Colombia,” he said.
Gimena Sánchez, from the Washington Office for Latin American Affairs (WOLA), coincides with him.
“If the United States distances itself from countries like Colombia in the region and only gets involved with them within a close security vision, it runs the risk that (…) form alliances” with states considered by Washington “economic competitors, such as China,” he said.
Petro maintains a hostile relationship with the United States; Recently he accused Secretary of State Marco Rubio of promoting an alleged “coup d’etat” against his government, but then retracted his accusations without foundation.
Violence is on the rise since Petro assumed power. One of the most violent crimes was perpetrated last June against the presidential senator and applicant, Miguel Uribe Turbay.
