Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday confirmed a deal with the Swedish Saab aircraft maker to buy Gripen fighter jets, saying the purchase of the fighter jets is a “deterrent weapon to achieve peace” amid “turbulent” geopolitics, Press TV reported.
Mr. Petro said the new fighter jets would be used to deter “aggression against Colombia, no matter where it comes from.”
“In a geopolitically turbulent world, such an invasion “could come from anywhere,” Petro said.
Several countries in Latin America are at risk from the buildup of U.S. forces in the region, as the U.S. military carries out deadly offensive operations against shipping in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Without providing any evidence, Washington has falsely accused Latin American countries such as Venezuela of being responsible for not actively stopping drug trafficking from Colombia to the United States.
The U.S. military has confirmed 20 attacks targeting ships in Central and South America, resulting in about 80 deaths in international waters.
Latin American leaders, legal scholars and rights groups have criticized the United States for extrajudicial killings of people who should be brought to court for suspected violations of drug-trafficking laws.
US President Donald Trump has also claimed that both Petro and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro are involved in the regional drug trade, claims that both leaders strongly deny.
US media reports have repeatedly warned that the US military is preparing to attack more targets in Latin American countries.
However, on October 31, President Trump denied that he was considering attacking targets inside Venezuela.
He contradicted his previous claims that he was considering the possibility of launching an attack on the country’s territory.
MNA