Colombia Accuses Ecuador of Bombing, Tensions Escalate Amid Trade War
BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — Colombian President Gustavo Petro accused Ecuador on Monday of bombing Colombian territory, alleging a bomb was dropped from an aircraft near the border. The accusation further escalates tensions between the two nations already embroiled in a deepening trade dispute.
“A bomb has appeared, dropped from a plane. It will be thoroughly investigated, very close to the border with Ecuador,” Petro said during a cabinet meeting, according to a statement released by his office. He added that he suspects the attacks are not originating from armed groups, but from Ecuador itself. Petro stated that “many explosions” have occurred and promised to release a recording related to the incident soon.
The allegations come as Colombia and Ecuador are locked in a trade war initiated by Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa in January. Noboa imposed a 30% “security” tariff on Colombian imports, citing concerns over Colombia’s efforts to combat drug trafficking along their shared border. Colombia retaliated with tariffs on 73 products and cut off electricity supply to Ecuador. Noboa subsequently increased the tariff to 50% on March 1st, and also raised fees for transporting Colombian crude oil through its pipelines.
Petro revealed he contacted U.S. President Donald Trump last week, requesting his intervention. “I asked him to act and call the president of Ecuador because we do not want to go to war,” Petro said. He emphasized the importance of respecting national sovereignty, noting the bomb is “active and dangerous” and requires a decisive response.
The escalating conflict unfolds as Ecuador strengthens security ties with the United States. Last week, Ecuador and the U.S. formalized the opening of the first FBI office in Ecuador, aimed at combating international organized crime. This includes joint military operations launched earlier this month targeting terrorist organizations, with both countries conducting airstrikes against a training camp belonging to a dissident faction of the former FARC guerrilla group, the Comandos de la Frontera.
The situation remains fluid, with potential implications for regional stability and trade. The trade dispute alone has already significantly impacted economic relations between the two countries. Further escalation could have broader consequences for South America.
[Reporting by nouvelles-du-monde.com, based on statements from the Colombian Presidential Office and reports from 20minutos.es, CNN Español, and news.google.com.]
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