The United States has decertified Colombia’s counter-narcotics efforts for the first time in nearly three decades, a move that threatens to destabilize one of Washington’s closest security partnerships in Latin America and cut off millions in aid. The decertification marks the first time since 1994 that Colombia has been penalized under U.S. anti-drug legislation. “Under President Petro, coca cultivation and cocaine production have reached historic highs, while failed attempts to negotiate with narco-terrorist groups have only exacerbated the crisis,” the department said. “This undermines the long-standing beneficial cooperation between our countries against narcoterrorism.”During a televised cabinet meeting on Monday, Petro confirmed the decertification, accusing Washington of ignoring Colombia’s sacrifices. “The United States decertifies us after the deaths of dozens of police, especially soldiers, and ordinary people trying to prevent cocaine from reaching them,” he said.