Colombia has stopped buying weapons from the United States, its primary military partner, after Washington accused the South American country of failing to control cocaine trafficking. The news was reported by Al Jazeera. Interior Minister Armando Benedetti announced the decision on Tuesday, following comments made by President Gustavo Petro. Petro had alleged that the U.S. was trying to "participate" in Colombia's internal politics and seeking a "puppet president" before next year's elections.

Benedetti confirmed the move in an interview with Blu Radio, stating, "From this moment on, weapons will not be purchased from the United States."

According to Al Jazeera, US President Donald Trump had on Monday decertified Colombia as an ally in the fight against drugs, claiming that the country had allowed cocaine production to reach "all-time records." While this move is largely symbolic, it has added to the strain on the already tense alliance. The partnership has also faced disagreements in the past over the deportation of undocumented migrants to Colombia.

Petro, a former leftist fighter, defended his government's anti-narcotics policy in a series of posts on X, insisting that his administration had seized more cocaine than previous ones. During a ministerial meeting, he declared that Colombia "will not be blackmailed" by the U.S., adding that he "is not concerned about the US aid."

"We are the ones who help them, because the problem is theirs, not ours," Petro said, suggesting that Colombia's military would reduce its dependence on US "handouts." Al Jazeera reported that the U.S. provides about $380 million annually for anti-narcotics operations in Colombia, and it remains unclear how Trump's action will affect this funding.

In response to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's criticism that he was "erratic" in managing the drug war, Petro countered that bombing civilian boats in Latin American waters was "truly erratic." This was a reference to a previous order by Trump to strike two Venezuelan boats alleged to be operated by drug cartels. Petro further wrote on X, "Most of the cocaine that travels by sea leaves in containers from the ports, and goes on large ships and not in speedboats."

Al Jazeera also noted that Petro has promised not to let Colombia "kneel" to US interests or permit coca-growing peasants to be "beaten up." Since taking office in 2022, he has advocated for a shift in the U.S.-led war on drugs, preferring to focus on the social issues that drive it rather than on eradication. Data from the government and the UN show that coca cultivation in Colombia has surged by about 70 per cent under his presidency. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported that the area used for coca cultivation almost tripled to 253,000 hectares by 2023.

Petro attributed the growth to global demand, writing on X, "The world needs to change its anti-drug policy because it has failed." He added that cocaine use in the U.S. had only stabilised "because they switched en masse to fentanyl consumption, which is 30 times more deadly."

Petro has had repeated clashes with Trump, drawing criticism for denying U.S. extradition requests and for denouncing Washington's actions toward migrants and Venezuela. He also cut diplomatic ties with Israel in 2024 over its war in Gaza.