Yaqeen Blog

After eighty years of political gridlock and "broken promises," Bogotá is finally seeing its first Metro line become a reality. This isn't just a construction site; it is a major power shift. While Western nations hesitated, China stepped in with the technology and the "Real Power" to move the project forward.

By 2026, the city is no longer just talking about a train—it is watching a new "Standard Script" for Latin American infrastructure unfold.

1. The China Connection: Building the Future

The project is being led by a massive Chinese consortium made up of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and Xi’an Rail Transportation Group.

• The Elevated Choice: Unlike the underground systems in many cities, Bogotá’s first line is elevated. This was a "Managed Choice" to save money and speed up construction.

• High-Tech Manufacturing: China has brought in specialized "Bridge Launchers"—massive machines that lift and place pre-cast concrete sections of the track. This allows them to build the railway above the city's heavy traffic without shutting down every road.

• Driverless Systems: The fleet of 30 trains will be fully automated. This represents a "Vibe Shift" for a city that has relied on human-driven buses for nearly a century.

2. International Financing: The Globalized Wallet

Bogotá didn't just rely on its own money. They used a "Diagnostic" of global banking to make this happen.

• The Multi-Bank Deal: The project is backed by a $1 billion credit line from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and the European Investment Bank.

• The Shield: Because the money comes from these international institutions, the project is protected from local politicians who might try to cancel it. This creates a "Rules-Based Order" that ensures the work actually gets finished.

• National Support: The Colombian government is paying for 70% of the costs, while the city of Bogotá handles the other 30%.

3. The Impact: Changing Life for Millions

For the average person in Bogotá, this isn't about geopolitics; it's about reclaiming their life from the "Subhuman" traffic jams that have defined the city for decades.

1. Time Recovery: A commute that currently takes nearly two hours on the crowded TransMilenio bus system will be cut down to about 27 minutes.

2. Environmental Clean-up: The Metro is 100% electric. This is part of a larger plan to reduce the city’s carbon footprint and clean up the smog that hangs over the Andes mountains.

3. Urban Renewal: The 16 stations are acting as magnets for new investment. We are seeing a "Managed Escalation" of new apartment buildings and shops popping up along the metro route.

The Verdict: China’s Strategic Win

The Bogotá Metro is proof that China is now the "Main Character" of infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere. By taking on the risks that others wouldn't, they have earned a massive amount of influence in Colombia. As the trains undergo their first tests in late 2026, the city will finally join the ranks of modern global capitals, leaving the era of "broken promises" behind.

The fight against global drug trafficking just hit a new level of military and legal escalation. In a move signaling a dramatic policy shift, the US Treasury Department has officially designated Colombia’s most powerful criminal syndicate, Clan del Golfo (also known as the Gulf Clan or AGC), as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

This designation, announced just hours after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order classifying the opioid Fentanyl as a “Weapon of Mass Destruction” (WMD), marks a clear intention to employ national security and military tools against drug cartels. The question now is: what does this mean for the future of counter-narcotics efforts and US military presence in the Caribbean?

From Criminal Cartel to Foreign Terrorist

The Clan del Golfo (EGC) is a powerful, violent organization with an estimated 9,000 fighters controlling key illicit economies in Colombia, primarily cocaine trafficking and illegal gold mining.

The FTO designation is usually reserved for groups with clear political or ideological objectives (like Al Qaeda or ISIS). However, by classifying Clan del Golfo as an FTO, the US government unlocks a new set of legal and financial pressures:

• Financial Blockade: It mandates US financial institutions to block all assets related to the group and imposes severe criminal penalties on anyone, domestic or foreign, who provides the group with "material support."

• Legal Precedent: It increases the legal justification for offensive actions, turning drug violence into a matter of national security and potential armed conflict.

This move comes amid historic tensions between Washington and the Colombian government, whose current administration has been attempting to negotiate controversial peace talks with Clan del Golfo leaders in Qatar.

The Fentanyl Factor: A Chemical Weapon?

The FTO designation was amplified by President Trump’s executive order classifying illicit Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction. This declaration is highly controversial, as WMD classifications are typically reserved for chemical, biological, or nuclear threats.

• WMD Justification: The administration argues that Fentanyl—which can be lethal in minuscule doses—poses a WMD-level threat due to its potential for mass casualties and its hypothetical use in "concentrated, large-scale terror attacks."

• Militarized Enforcement: The classification allows federal agencies, including the Department of War (Defense), to utilize resources and tactics traditionally employed against chemical weapons to target trafficking networks, potentially overriding existing counter-narcotics frameworks.

The Caribbean Crucible: Military Escalation

The policy shifts are already being matched by lethal action. The Trump administration has dramatically ramped up military operations in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific:

• Lethal Strikes: The US Navy has carried out more than 20 lethal strikes against vessels suspected of carrying drugs in international waters, resulting in the deaths of over 90 individuals.

• Controversy: These military strikes, which often involve drone footage showing vessels exploding, have drawn heavy scrutiny from legal experts and lawmakers who question their legality outside of declared war zones, especially given the high death toll of suspected, non-combatant smugglers.

The designation of Clan del Golfo and the Fentanyl WMD declaration solidify a new, highly militarized era in the War on Drugs, raising the stakes for stability across Latin America.

Sources

◦ U.S. Department of State - Terrorist Designations of Clan del Golfo (Dec 2025)

◦ The White House - Executive Order Designating Fentanyl as a Weapon of Mass Destruction (Dec 2025)

◦ Associated Press - The US Labels Another Latin American Cartel a Terrorist Group

◦ Wikipedia - 2025 United States Military Strikes on Alleged Drug Traffickers