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The tension between Washington and Bogotá has reached its most critical point in years. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, accused his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, this Sunday of being “a leader of drug trafficking who encourages the massive production of drugs, both on large and small farms, throughout Colombia.”
The Republican leader launched the attack on the social network Truth, where he also announced the immediate suspension of all U.S. payments and subsidies to the South American country. The post was shared by the White House on Facebook.
"Petro is doing nothing to stop it, despite the payments and subsidies from the U.S., which are nothing more than a long-term scam. As of today, these payments will cease to be made to Colombia," Trump wrote. "If he doesn't shut down the drug extermination fields, the United States will do it for him, and not in a gentle way," he warned.
The Colombian leader responded on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Trump of being "misled by his advisors." "I recommend that he read up on Colombia carefully and determine where the drug traffickers are and where the democrats are," Petro replied.
The verbal confrontation comes days after the bombing of a submarine by U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea, part of the so-called "war against the cartels."
Washington stated that the vessel was transporting drugs from Venezuela, but Petro claims that the attack occurred in Colombian territorial waters, leaving one Colombian and one Ecuadorian among the survivors.
The president denounced a violation of national sovereignty and demanded explanations from the U.S. Government. Meanwhile, the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, confirmed a seventh military operation without judicial authorization against an alleged “narco-boat of the ELN,” raising the death toll in these actions to 33.
The clash between Trump and Petro reignites a diplomatic conflict that already includes the decertification of Colombia in the fight against drugs, the revocation of Petro's visa and a growing deterioration in a relationship that has historically been vital for regional security.
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