The United States ambassador to Colombia said drug legalization “has to be addressed” in an interview with newspaper El Pais on Monday.
Peter Michael McKinley said that “the issue presented itself several times in the last 20, 30 years, and it is now a question that is on the table, and what is always important in political debates is to analyze the options present.”
This came in reaction to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos‘ statement about drug legalization during a recent diplomatic visit to the United Kingdom.
McKinley, however, said that even though the debate is taking place, the U.S. “remained opposed to legalization.” The ambassador went on to describe Colombia as an important ally of the U.S. in the struggle against narco-trafficking, and praised the evolution of the Andean country over the last decade.
“The transformation of the past ten years in Colombia in terms of security, struggle against narco-terrorism, construction of institutions or strengthening democracy is something not only recognized by Colombians, but by governments on an international level,” McKinley said.