Petro's call for change in Colombia rattles armed forces

FILE PHOTO: Colombian leftist presidential candidate Gustavo Petro, speaks during an interview with Reuters in Bogota, Colombia June 10, 2022. REUTERS/Luisa González/File Photo

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Members of Colombia's armed forces - especially its police - are worried they will face significant changes if leftist candidate Gustavo Petro wins the presidency this month, a dozen active and retired officials told Reuters.

The Colombian military has fought guerrilla movements for decades and has a longstanding role in the U.S. drug war. Major changes would potentially affect international cooperation against cocaine production, said active military officials who declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak on elections.