International

Colombia defends its anti-drug efforts ahead of U.S. certification decision

The Colombian government does not take for granted the annual narcotics certification granted by the United States administration, but defends that it has done enough to maintain that status.

“Is this certification guaranteed? Of course not. It is a decision of President Trump,” said Colombia’s Ambassador to the United States, Daniel García-Peña, in a press conference on Wednesday.

The Director General of the Colombian Police, Carlos Triana, and the Director of the Illicit Crop Substitution Program, Gloria Miranda, visited Washington to hold meetings with the Trump administration, which must decide in September whether to maintain the certification of cooperation with Colombia in the fight against drugs.

According to the ambassador, the metrics demonstrate that Colombia “continues to meet” the commitments made with the United States in the fight against drugs. García-Peña highlighted that the government of Gustavo Petro has achieved a record in cocaine and precursor drug seizures, although he acknowledged that “improvements are needed” in the fight against money laundering.

“It would be a huge mistake for me to say that the certification is guaranteed. But to say it is in jeopardy is also not true,” pointed out the ambassador, who assured that “there is recognition of Colombia” from both Republicans and Democrats.

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The Petro administration’s approach is that the anti-drug policy should not be addressed only from a military standpoint but must also tackle its structural causes and support the development of rural communities affected by cultivation.

“Colombia is the country in the world that has done the most in the fight against narcotrafficking; this is clear,” said Miranda, who sees “similarities” with the Trump administration’s policy.

International

Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids

Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.

The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.

In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.

He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”

The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.

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The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.

International

Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win

Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.

“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.

In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”

International

Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains

Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.

“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”

Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.