Puerto Antioquia: France's foreign minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, has pledged to combat the growing menace of drug trafficking during his recent visit to Colombia.

This South American nation is notorious for being one of the world's primary cocaine producers.

The European Union’s Foreign Affairs representative emphasized that defeating such illicit trade— extending beyond just narcotics — is essential due to its implications on public health and safety concerns.

Barrot stated that France will not stand idly by while drug trafficking escalates in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe, where there has been an influx of drugs and a movement of traffickers setting up laboratories.To counter this, the French government intends to establish a regional academy in the Dominican Republic next year.

This academy will serve as a training ground for investigators and customs officers to combat organized crime more effectively.

Barrot specifically mentioned that Colombia, the world's top cocaine producer, would be a key player in this initiative.The EU-CELAC summit held in Santa Marta over the weekend was marred by controversies and no-shows.

The tensions between Colombia and the United States were particularly evident, with Colombia accusing the U.S. of pressuring countries to boycott the event.

The strained relationship between Washington and Bogota stems from the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean to tackle rising drug trafficking levels.

This move has been criticized by Barrot for disregarding international law and maritime rights.