Colombia’s largest cocaine bust in a decade underscores uneasy US relations

Colombian authorities intercepted 14 tonnes of cocaine at Buenaventura port on November 20, marking their biggest single seizure in ten years. The haul, worth an estimated $390 million, reflects an intensified anti-drug campaign under President Gustavo Petro. Since his election in 2022, Petro has faced increasing criticism from the United States, including losing Colombia’s status as a certified ally in Washington’s ongoing “war on drugs.” This latest operation comes as his administration tries