Medellin, Colombia – President Gustavo Petro accused Ecuador of dropping bombs on Colombian territory, adding that 27 “burnt bodies” had been found near their shared border.
“We will investigate the situation thoroughly. The incident occurred near the Ecuadorian border,” Petro told a cabinet meeting Monday evening. “This confirms my suspicions to some extent, but a thorough investigation is necessary.”
The accusation marks the latest increase in tensions between the two neighbors, with President Daniel Novoa quickly denouncing the claims and insisting his country’s anti-drug operations only hit targets within Ecuador.
In response to Petro’s claims, Novoa said Tuesday: “Through international cooperation, we will continue the fight by bombing hideouts mainly used by Colombians whose lax border controls have allowed their government to infiltrate our country.”
But Petro doubled down on his accusations this Tuesday, when the president claimed through
Colombian Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Colombian troops had been deployed to the border to investigate the matter and carry out the controlled destruction of objects believed to be Ecuadorian bombs.
Earlier this month, the United States and Ecuador announced a joint military campaign to target criminal groups operating in the South American country. On Sunday, Ecuador began a 15-day joint operation with the United States, deploying thousands of soldiers and police to areas hardest hit by crime and imposing a nightly curfew.
Noboa has repeatedly criticized Bogotá for failing to tackle transnational organized crime and police its border areas.
Last February, Ecuador imposed a 30% tariff on Colombia, calling it a “security fee.” Since then, the bilateral dispute has resulted in mutual import tariffs reaching 50%, drawing criticism from business owners and workers on both sides of the border.
Nonetheless, earlier this month the neighbors joined forces to fight crime along their 600km border. Novoa, an ally of President Trump, also agreed in March to cooperate with the U.S. military in military operations against organized crime groups.
Novoa was also one of 17 leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean invited to join President Trump’s ‘Shield of the Americas’ last week. The alliance, which excludes Colombia, pledges to use full military force against drug traffickers. Last week, the FBI also opened its first office in Ecuador.
Featured image source: Office of the President of Colombia.
