Trump and Petro Disagree on Approach to Eradicating Colombian Cocaine Crops

Colombian President Gustavo Petro is set to meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday. As part of this meeting, Petro’s anti-drug strategy has come under scrutiny. In Colombia’s Narino department, a significant portion of the country’s coca crop is grown by farmers from the Awa Indigenous reserve.

Coca leaves are used to produce cocaine, and Colombia is the largest source of the world’s supply, accounting for nearly 70 percent of global production. The cultivation of coca has been a contentious issue in Colombia, with various governments having employed different approaches to address it.

Prior to Petro’s presidency, Colombia had relied on military-led strategies and forced eradication of coca crops. However, Petro’s administration has shifted its focus towards voluntary crop replacement, providing financial assistance and support to farmers who destroy their coca crops.

The shift in approach has strained relations with the US, which has pressured Petro to adopt more aggressive tactics. Despite this, some farmers from the Awa reserve, including Yuli Caicedo and Charles Martinez, are participating in the government-backed removal effort.

Caicedo’s community has historically relied on growing coca as a means of income, but she acknowledges that the crop is linked to violence. Martinez notes that forced eradication by the military or police often led to resentment among farmers, causing them to return to coca cultivation.

The PNIS (Coca Substitution Programme) was established in 2016 as part of a peace agreement between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The programme provides financial assistance and support to small-scale coca farmers who voluntarily destroy their crops. Luisa, a former coca grower, is among those enrolled in the programme, which has helped her transition to growing alternative crops.

Petro’s administration has continued to target criminal networks involved in cocaine trafficking through arrests and seizures. The meeting with Trump will provide an opportunity for both leaders to discuss strategies for addressing the issue of coca cultivation in Colombia.

Source: Al Jazeera