Ex-Pentagon spy warns U.S. of possible war with Latin American countries
Retired U.S. intelligence officer Scott Ritter warned the U.S. that Latin American countries could unite and start a war against the country. This is how he commented on the State Department's decision to impose sanctions against Colombia. Ritter said this on January 26 in the social network X (former Twitter).
"You will be drawn into a fierce war that unites Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, Cuba and Mexico against the United States," wrote the ex-intelligence officer.
He noted that the U.S. Southern Command is not up to the task. Ritter also said that Washington lacks the military resources to back up its words with force.
Earlier in the day, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said that the country's authorities will raise duties on imports from the United States by 25% in response to the sanctions imposed by President Donald Trump. Petro noted that the country will now export goods to all countries in the world except the United States.
The US imposed sanctions and 25% duties on all goods from Colombia for Bogota's refusal to accept a plane carrying deported migrants. In addition, Trump has banned travel and revoked visas for Colombian government officials and their allies and supporters. Visa sanctions are also imposed on all party members, family members and supporters of the Colombian government.
At the same time, Petro said Colombia was refusing to accept U.S. airplanes carrying deportable Colombians. He said it was necessary to establish a protocol to treat the migrants with dignity before Colombia would start accepting them again. It was later reported that Colombia had deployed two US military planes bound for the Latin American country with about 160 deportable migrants on board.
The day before, Mexico refused to accept the plane with deported migrants from the United States. It was noted that the reason for this decision was unclear, but a White House spokesman said that "the problem with the flights was administrative" and it was quickly eliminated.
Earlier, on January 22, Trump restricted the right of illegal migrants who entered the United States through the southern border. He directed the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice and the State Department to take all necessary steps to immediately repel, repatriate and remove illegal immigrants across the country's southern border.
