The US accused Colombian President Gustav Petro of doing too little to reduce crime and drug trafficking on Friday. US Ambassador Mike Waltz told a UN Security Council meeting that Petro’s policies toward “narco-terrorist groups” are “irresponsible failures.”

“The violence and drug trafficking perpetrated by these arms groups…can spread and jeopardize the safety of Colombians, the safety of everyone in the region, and certainly of Americans,” Waltz said.

His complaints fit with a larger conflict between the US administration and Petro, and with growing US interest and difficulties in the region.

Petro has denied American extradition requests. He has also been critical of recent American actions in neighboring Venezuela. The US “decertified” Colombia for allegedly failing to meet i

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