President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, calling him a ‘lunatic’ and vowing to cut all U.S. funding to the country for its alleged failure to combat drug trafficking. During a press briefing aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed frustration over Colombia’s role in the global drug trade, claiming that the country produces and refines cocaine instead of addressing the issue.
His remarks followed previous accusations that Petro is an ‘illegal drug leader,’ and now, Trump has announced new tariffs against Colombia, a move that has further escalated tensions between the two nations. Trump emphasized that Colombia should not receive payments as it is producing, not fighting, drugs. ‘They make drugs, they refine drugs, they make cocaine, they have cocaine factories,’ Trump said.
Trump’s rhetoric marked a sharper, more personal attack on Petro, whom he had earlier accused of being an ‘illegal drug leader’ and ‘encouraging the massive production of narcotics’ across the country. The president said he was stopping all payments to Colombia because the country was producing drugs rather than fighting them. ‘They have no fight against drugs, and I’m stopping all payments to Colombia because they don’t have anything to do with their fight against drugs.’ This has raised fears of a wider conflict in South America, especially with recent increased U.S. pressure on Venezuela and its leader, Nicolás Maduro.
The U.S. has stepped up counternarcotics operations across the Caribbean, deploying ships and surveillance aircraft as part of a broader crackdown on trafficking networks. Trump also authorized covert operations inside Venezuela. However, unlike Venezuela, Colombia remains Washington’s top regional aid recipient, though funding has fallen to roughly $230 million this year – well below earlier peaks topping $700 million, per U.S. budget data.
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry accused Trump of threatening the country’s sovereignty, calling his remarks an ‘illegal intervention.’ Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez added that the armed forces have ‘also lost men and women fighting drug trafficking.’ Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, has repeatedly feuded with Trump this year. Petro initially rejected U.S. military flights of deported migrants, leading Trump to threaten tariffs. Meanwhile, the State Department said it would revoke Petro’s visa when he attended the U.N. General Assembly in New York because he told American soldiers to disobey Trump’s orders.
Petro and Trump have also been at odds over American strikes on boats in the Caribbean. The Colombian president has accused the U.S. of civilian casualties in maritime drug raids – alleging one recent strike killed a Colombian fisherman who supposedly had no ties to drug trafficking. There have been seven U.S. strikes in the region since early September that the administration says are targeting alleged drug traffickers. At least 32 people have been killed.