El Ciudadano
Original article: «En alianza con lo peor de la sociedad de los EEUU»: Revelan que Asociación Nacional de Empresarios de Colombia contrató a un exjefe de la CIA como lobbista
A report by Diario Red has revealed that the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI) paid $42,000 to a «shadowy lobbying firm» led by former CIA director in Venezuela, Enrique Ángel de la Torre.
The firm, Tower Strategy, also includes James Story, the former US ambassador to Venezuela who is now based in Bogotá. According to the report, ANDI paid them «to ensure de la Torre lobbied Congress, the Senate, the Department of State and Commerce, the President’s office, the National Security Council, and the Office of the United States Trade Representative.»
An official document presented to US authorities outlined that the lobbying effort aimed to «defend and promote trade and economic relations between the United States and Colombia, including efforts to strengthen bilateral trade ties, foster a stable and competitive investment climate, and support policies that incentivize nearshoring and the diversification of supply chains in the Western Hemisphere.»
According to Diario Red, this alignment represents a «complete adherence to Donald Trump’s agenda in Latin America» and indicates that the Colombian business association is keen to re-establish international investments in Venezuela, «under the scheme of licenses granted by the US Department of the Treasury and the Department of State.» Read the full article HERE
Petro’s Reaction
Upon learning of the news, Colombian President Gustavo Petro expressed critical views regarding ANDI, accusing them of attempting to manipulate «the free elections of the Colombian people, in alliance with the worst of US society, and with dirty money,» which was not reported «to the campaign.»
«They form alliances to see how they can imprison the President who made labor reforms for the working people and not for themselves, who were used to having a state that obeyed them. Since they see workers as people to exploit, they disliked the laws and decrees in favor of the working population,» Petro questioned in a social media message.
«They are not patriots, they are not firm for the homeland, because they prefer the US flag. We have seen one of their political puppets pledge allegiance above all else to the US and its flag while trying to win elections discussing firmness with the homeland but not specifying which homeland,» added the Head of State.
Petro criticized that a part of the Colombian population «does not care about being led by a US citizen who swore allegiance to them. Trump is defending that a foreigner governs Colombia (…) supposedly trusting someone in the fight against drug trafficking precisely with someone who descends from narco-paramilitaries and comes from wealthy families in Córdoba who delivered their daughters to the narco-paramilitaries,» he asserted.
«That’s why they have dark business dealings in aviation with arms buyers’ societies and with narco-paramilitaries disguised as politicians in Miami itself,» the President added.
We will continue to provide updates.
La entrada Ex-CIA Chief Hired as Lobbyist by Colombian Business Association Sparks Controversy se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.
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