The U.S. stated that Colombia was not invited to the Shield of the Americas summit because President Gustavo Petro has not sufficiently cooperated on key issues.
The United States explained its decision to exclude Colombia from the Shield of the Americas summit led by Donald Trump, attributing the lack of an invitation to insufficient cooperation from Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, indicated during a press conference that the U.S. did not perceive the level of collaboration they hoped to see from Petro's administration.
Leavitt did not elaborate on the specific areas where Colombia is falling short, but she emphasized that the U.S. expects further cooperation in combating drug trafficking and the operations of drug cartels. The Shield of the Americas is a military alliance aimed at addressing these issues with the participation of 17 member countries. Leavitt's comments imply a focus on strengthened inter-nation relations concerning anti-drug initiatives.
This decision could have significant implications for Colombia's international relations, particularly concerning its partnership with the U.S. in anti-narcotics efforts. The absence from such a summit may affect Colombia's leverage in regional discussions on security and drug policy as it seeks to strengthen its position with the U.S. under the current administration.
