Colombia has signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to purchase 17 fighter jets from Sweden as the country grapples with rising tensions in the region. The agreement, which was announced by President Gustavo Petro on Friday, comes as the US has been increasing its military presence in Latin America and accusing Colombia of being involved in the regional drug trade.
Petro stated that the new warplanes will serve as a "deterrent weapon" to achieve peace, amid what he described as "messy" geopolitics. The move is seen as a significant development in the region, where Colombia has been locked in a bitter dispute with Washington over issues such as drug trafficking and oil wealth.
The purchase of the Gripen fighter jets, which was initially announced in April, marks a major shift for the Colombian military, which had previously relied on US support. Petro has long traded barbs with President Donald Trump, who has accused him and Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro of being involved in the regional drug trade, and has withdrawn financial aid from Colombia.
The Colombian leader has also accused the US of carrying out extrajudicial killings of people suspected of breaking laws related to drug smuggling. The AFP news agency reports that US and French firms had previously tried to sell warplanes to Colombia, but Bogota ultimately went with Sweden's Saab.
Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson hailed the deal as a significant development in defence relations between Colombia and Sweden, which will deepen significantly following the purchase of 17 Gripen fighter jets. The deal is seen as a major boost for Petro's government, which has been struggling to assert its influence in the region amidst rising tensions with Washington.
The purchase comes at a time when the US military presence in Latin America is escalating, and Colombia is facing mounting pressure from both the US and Venezuela over issues such as drug trafficking and oil wealth.
Petro stated that the new warplanes will serve as a "deterrent weapon" to achieve peace, amid what he described as "messy" geopolitics. The move is seen as a significant development in the region, where Colombia has been locked in a bitter dispute with Washington over issues such as drug trafficking and oil wealth.
The purchase of the Gripen fighter jets, which was initially announced in April, marks a major shift for the Colombian military, which had previously relied on US support. Petro has long traded barbs with President Donald Trump, who has accused him and Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro of being involved in the regional drug trade, and has withdrawn financial aid from Colombia.
The Colombian leader has also accused the US of carrying out extrajudicial killings of people suspected of breaking laws related to drug smuggling. The AFP news agency reports that US and French firms had previously tried to sell warplanes to Colombia, but Bogota ultimately went with Sweden's Saab.
Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson hailed the deal as a significant development in defence relations between Colombia and Sweden, which will deepen significantly following the purchase of 17 Gripen fighter jets. The deal is seen as a major boost for Petro's government, which has been struggling to assert its influence in the region amidst rising tensions with Washington.
The purchase comes at a time when the US military presence in Latin America is escalating, and Colombia is facing mounting pressure from both the US and Venezuela over issues such as drug trafficking and oil wealth.
Just had some thoughts on this... think Petro's move is about more than just getting some new fighter jets 
️ Colombia's been feeling squeezed by the US for ages, and it looks like they're finally taking matters into their own hands 
However, I'm not sure if this is gonna be a game-changer or just another way to keep the status quo 
Petro's always going on about achieving peace with his 'deterrent weapon' line... hope that doesn't just mean more military spending 
Still, gotta respect Colombia for taking control of their own defence – they shouldn't have to rely solely on the US for protection 
How do you guys think this'll play out?
. Colombia's got some big shoes to fill in terms of geopolitics, but if anyone can pull it off, they can 
! I'm not surprised Petro is going with Sweden, tbh - they've been playing it cool for a while now, and who can blame him? The US is being super shady about its involvement in Latin America, accusing countries of all sorts of things without providing any concrete evidence 
! The Colombian military has been stuck with outdated equipment for way too long, so it's about time they upgraded 
. It'll be interesting to see how this all plays out with the US and Venezuela, but I'm rooting for Colombia to assert its own interests and not just take a backseat 
.
like, who knew coffee could be so lucrative?