The UN Security Council voted Friday to reduce its peacekeeping obligations in Colombia under pressure from the United States, which has denounced president Gustavo Petro鈥檚 policies.
In a resolution adopted with 12 votes in favour and two abstentions鈥攖he US and Russia鈥攖he UN will extend its mission for another year in Colombia, but reduce provisions related to the protection of ethnic minorities there.
US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz praised the reduction efforts, but stopped short of endorsing the resolution.
鈥楾he United States still has significant reservations about Colombia鈥檚 peace process, including the worsening of the security situation and the risk of impunity for terrorists and drug traffickers,鈥� Waltz said.
Created in the wake of a truce between rebel faction FARC and the government of then-president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos, the UN鈥檚 mission oversees the implementation of their peace agreement, which called for the disarmament of thousands of guerrillas.
On Friday, the UN urged the US to halt strikes on vessels in the Caribbean, where at least 62 have been killed in strikes on boats Washington alleges are being used for drug trafficking.
鈥楾he UN repeats what I have said: the attacks in the Caribbean violate international humanitarian law,鈥� Petro wrote on X.
