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US authorities has formally labeled Colombia as a country that has “clearly not met” its obligations to curb narcotics trade, while refraining from cutting off US aid to the country.

Every year, the American administration publicly evaluates whether several nations are entirely working together with American-directed anti-drug campaigns, and those judged inadequate face the possibility of having their Washington-backed support suspended.

Recently, the US leadership announced that drug output in Colombia had increased to all-time high numbers under its socialist president, Gustavo Petro, a claim that the Colombian leader denied.

Answering, the Colombian government announced it would cease purchasing arms from the United States.

Cabinet member Armando Benedetti stated to media outlets that his government would discontinue the procurement of American weapons "immediately".

The other nations the America claimed had not achieved their objectives were Afghanistan, the South American country, Myanmar and the Bolivarian Republic.

The country was added on the list for the first time since over two decades ago.

The action is expected to worsen bilateral connections between its current administration and the American leadership.

Gustavo Petro used social media to reply to the US allegation that during his time in office the land planted with coca plants and the production of cocaine had reached unprecedented amounts.

The plant are the primary component in the narcotic, and the country has consistently remained the largest producer of the illicit substance.

Research by the UN agency (UNODC) revealed that growth of the crop had grown by a tenth in the previous year. Statistics for the current year are due to be released soon.

But Petro insisted that it had been during the leadership of Iván Duque, who was in power from 2018 to 2022, that the region used for coca saw large increases.

According to statistics released by the Colombian presidency, a record 1,764 metric tons of cocaine were seized by law enforcement between August 2022 and recently. Interceptions have remained at a elevated rate in 2025, official tallies suggest.

Gustavo Petro also stated that for the growing of coca to decrease, what was necessary was for use for cocaine to go down in the America and in European countries.

Washington on the other hand put the fault directly at the president’s feet, claiming that the leader’s peace talks with various militant organizations — many of which finance themselves through illegal drug activities — had impeded the struggle against drugs.

"His failed attempts to seek accommodations with drug-trafficking organizations only intensified the situation," a presidential determination sent to US Congress declared.

It continues to praise the "competence and valor" of Colombia's security forces in confronting gangs.

It further stated that "the inability of the country to meet its substance regulation duties over the past year rests entirely with its administration".

However, it provides the door open to re-evaluating Colombia if its government "takes more aggressive action to eradicate coca and lower cocaine manufacture and trade".

And while the language from American authorities has clearly angered Gustavo Petro, his administration will also be relieved that the designation did not lead to a cut of the financial support, observers suggest.

The designation occurs at a time when the US leader has made the fight against "narco-terrorists" a central objective.

On Monday, he announced that the US military had eliminated an suspected narcotics ship in open sea in the tropical zone.

A number of persons were killed in the attack, Trump said.

He added the US had gathered confirmation that the vessels were owned by drug trafficking organizations but has not so far released the proof.