Colombia's new president approves extradition of rebel leaders to US
It is a step towards ending a plan to stop violence by bringing rebel and criminal groups to the negotiating table.
Colombia's recently inaugurated right-wing president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has given his consent for the extradition of five members of armed rebel groups sought by the US on charges related to drugs.
This decision marks a departure from the strategy of his left-wing predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who aimed to resolve Colombia's long-standing violence by engaging rebel and criminal organizations in peace negotiations.
De la Espriella articulated his stance on X, stating, "Since the first day it was clear: peace cannot be a refuge for criminals nor a mechanism of impunity." He later elaborated that Petro's peace initiative had inadvertently provided opportunities for criminals without securing their genuine collaboration.
Petro's peace plan drew criticism for its perceived failures, with opponents pointing to repeated ceasefire violations and withdrawals from talks by members of the illegal organizations involved.
The five individuals slated for extradition are affiliated with splinter groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a left-wing rebel organization that entered into a peace accord with the government in 2016, and the Gulf Clan, identified as Colombia's primary drug trafficking cartel.
These individuals are wanted in the US on various charges, including drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and illegal weapons possession. While two are currently in Colombian custody, three others have yet to be apprehended.
The extraditions were initially approved by Petro in 2025 but were put on hold due to the men's participation in the former president's peace endeavors.
De la Espriella, who assumed office earlier this month, has pledged to US President Donald Trump to intensify efforts against drug trafficking in Latin America, a priority for the Trump administration in the region.
Colombia, the world's leading producer of cocaine, has historically been a close ally of Washington in Latin America. However, relations became strained under Petro, who openly questioned Washington's anti-drug trafficking strategies and condemned US military strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels.