President Donald Trump has accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of being an illegal drug leader and vowed to end U.S. financial aid to Colombia, citing the country’s failure to curb cocaine production. This declaration comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between the two nations, particularly following the U.S. administration’s revocation of Petro’s visa over alleged ‘reckless and incendiary actions’ in New York City.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated that U.S. payments and subsidies aimed at helping Colombia address drug production are ‘nothing more than a long-term rip-off of America’. He warned that Colombian drugs are ‘causing death, destruction, and havoc’ as his administration intensifies efforts to tighten the border and combat the nation’s ongoing drug epidemic. Additionally, Trump threatened that Colombia would be forced to ‘close up these killing fields’ through American intervention if Petro does not act on his own.
The Colombian Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment, and the White House did not provide further clarification on the situation. Last month, the Trump administration revoked Petro’s U.S. visa following ‘reckless and incendiary actions’ in New York City. Petro has condemned the administration’s authorization of deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean, which U.S. officials claimed were transporting narcotics.
During his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Petro accused the Trump administration of authorizing these strikes and stated that criminal proceedings must be opened against U.S. officials, including President Trump, if they were responsible. He emphasized that the boat’s passengers were not members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, as previously claimed by the Trump administration. This ongoing conflict highlights the complex relations between the two countries, with each side accusing the other of actions that exacerbate the drug crisis in the region.