Paloma Valencia seeks Trump's help for war on cocaine gangs
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 4
Paloma Valencia seeks Trump's help for war on cocaine gangs
5 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 4
In Colombia's presidential race this month, conservative candidate Valencia is pitching a US-backed offensive against drug-trafficking militias.
The election offers voters a stark choice between President Gustavo Petro's Total Peace negotiations and a return to the hardline security strategy associated with former president Álvaro Uribe.
Petro's policy has brought seven armed groups to talks, but critics say commanders have prospered during what the report describes as the biggest cocaine boom in history.
With cocaine production at historic highs, can Colombia’s next president succeed without tackling global drug demand?
How will Colombia’s new leader protect civilians from both powerful drug gangs and state-led military offensives?
Beyond war or peace talks, what is the third option for Colombia’s escalating security crisis?
Valencia’s Conservative Surge and the Battle Over Colombia’s Security Crisis
Overview
Paloma Valencia won Colombia's conservative primaries with 46% of the vote, demonstrating strong right-wing support and selecting Juan Daniel Oviedo as her running mate to broaden appeal. Her rise comes amid a deepening security crisis caused by the 2016 FARC peace agreement, which left a power vacuum filled by armed groups like the ELN and Clan del Golfo, leading to a surge in violence and drone attacks in 2025. President Petro's stalled peace policy failed to curb this violence and coca cultivation, prompting the U.S. to decertify Colombia in early 2026. Meanwhile, Trump's sanctions on Petro worsened U.S.-Colombia relations. Valencia's campaign capitalizes on this turmoil, promising a hardline military approach and closer U.S. ties to restore order.