【Text by Observer Net, Wang Yi】After the UK refused to be a "complicit party" and suspended sharing intelligence about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean with the United States, Colombian President Petro announced on November 11 that his country would also suspend intelligence cooperation with the US.
Petro stated on the social media platform X that he had ordered all levels of Colombian intelligence agencies to "suspend sending communications and other exchanges to US security agencies." He added that this move would continue until the US stops attacking ships in the Caribbean Sea.
The Financial Times of the UK noted on November 11 that Petro's move was a protest against the recent multiple rounds of US strikes against suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean and the East Pacific region.
Since late August, the US has deployed about 10,000 soldiers and 8 warships in the region and launched at least 19 strike operations, resulting in the deaths of at least 76 suspected drug traffickers. On November 11, the US also sent the largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the "Gerald R. Ford," leading a carrier strike group into Latin America and the Caribbean, escalating tensions with Venezuela.
US Navy's "Ford" Aircraft Carrier, a reference image
Petro previously described the US actions as "murder" and emphasized that "anti-drug operations must comply with the human rights of the Caribbean people." He also shared a report from CNN stating that the UK had suspended sharing some information about drug-related vessels with the US.
On November 11, CNN cited sources who revealed that because it did not want to become a "complicit party" in the US military strike operations, the UK had stopped sharing information about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean over a month ago, considering these attacks as "illegal." This decision marked a "major rift" in the relationship between the UK and its closest ally and intelligence-sharing partner, highlighting growing international doubts about the legality of the US military actions in Latin America.
The report also said that Canada, another important ally that has cooperated with the US for nearly two decades and assisted the US Coast Guard in intercepting suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean, has kept a distance from the US military strikes. Canada plans to continue the cooperation named "Operation Caribbean" with the US Coast Guard but has clearly informed the US that it does not want its intelligence to be used to help select targets for lethal strikes.
It is known that due to its territories and intelligence agencies in multiple regions of the Caribbean, the UK has long helped the US locate vessels suspected of "drug trafficking" so that the US Coast Guard can intercept them.
Similar to the UK, Colombia has also maintained a cooperative relationship with the US in anti-drug operations. The Financial Times reported that since 2000, the US has provided Colombia with about $1.4 billion in aid, including the "Colombia Plan" military assistance program, aimed at helping to combat left-wing guerrillas and drug cartels.
Elizabeth Dickinson, a senior analyst on Colombian issues at the International Crisis Group, analyzed that Colombian intelligence provided about 80% of actionable information for the US anti-drug operations in the Caribbean. "If the intelligence sharing is truly suspended, the US will lose an important perspective in monitoring security threats... this would be a significant strategic loss for Washington."
The US operations in the Caribbean have sparked controversy both domestically and internationally. Last month, the Commander of the US Southern Command, Alvin Holsey, raised doubts about the legality of the attack operations during a meeting with the Secretary of Defense, Hegseth, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dan Caine, and even offered to resign.
CNN reported that some high-ranking officials within the US Department of Defense also expressed skepticism about the military operations. Several current and former military lawyers believe that "these attacks do not appear legal." However, the Trump administration continued to implement the operations unilaterally.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, recently stated that the US attacks violated international law and constituted "unlawful killings."
President Maduro of Venezuela has repeatedly condemned the Trump administration for inciting a "new, eternal war," attempting to overthrow the Venezuelan government through terrorism and military means. On November 11, Maduro signed the "Overall Defense Command Law" and ordered the establishment of multiple integrated defense command units composed of citizens, military personnel, and government officials to respond to potential "armed conflicts."
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