US lawmakers urge Trump administration to oppose Colombia’s Amazon aerial spraying plans

On Thursday, a coalition of U.S. lawmakers urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio not to endorse Colombia's intention to resume aerial spraying of coca plants, the source of cocaine. The group expressed apprehensions that such a policy could endanger human health and the delicate ecosystems of the Amazon rainforest. The proposal advocates for the revival of a decades-old U.S.-supported strategy, which was halted in 2015 due to health apprehensions.

Colombia's government proposes a pilot spraying program in Putumayo, an Amazonian region bordering Ecuador and Peru, with the aim of eradicating coca crops from up to 1,000 hectares. The plan would utilize a different herbicide, glufosinate ammonium, over the previously used glyphosate, which was suspended due to health concerns and is currently prohibited in the European Union.

Colombia's National Police confirmed the pilot would be scientifically evaluated and would refrain from protected areas, water sources, and territories of communities with legal protections.

In a statement, lawmaker Mark Pocan expressed his concerns over potential health risks and environmental damage to a vulnerable region. Pocan emphasized that Washington should clarify its stance on the program and the safeguards being considered. Colombia, a leading producer of cocaine, currently cultivates over 261,000 hectares of coca plants as per United Nations data from 2024.

Supporters argue that aerial eradication is a quicker and safer alternative compared to deploying military forces into high-risk areas. However, critics assert that the practice may harm legitimate crops and motivate farmers to clear more forest to replace destroyed plantations. The proposed glufosinate ammonium herbicide, despite being approved in Colombia, was revoked for use in the EU in 2018 due to potential health and environmental hazards.