Colombian President Gustavo Petro has fired back at former U.S. President Donald Trump's criticisms, asserting that Trump is "misled." Petro declared, "Trump is misled by his circles and advisors. The main adversary of drug trafficking in Colombia in the 21st century, the one who exposed its ties with Colombia's political power—that was me," he stated confidently in a post on X.
"I advise Trump to thoroughly understand Colombia and discern where the drug traffickers are and where the democrats stand," Petro added.
Petro's remarks come in response to Trump's allegations on Sunday, where he accused Petro of being "a leader of drug trafficking who encourages massive drug production across Colombia, in both large and small fields." Trump made these comments on the social media platform Truth, where he also announced the immediate suspension of all U.S. payments and subsidies to the South American nation. The post was shared by the White House on Facebook.
"Petro does nothing to stop it, despite the U.S. payments and subsidies, which are nothing more than a long-term scam. As of today, these payments to Colombia will cease," 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 manner," he warned.
The Colombian leader responded on X (formerly Twitter), accusing Trump of being "misled by his advisors." Petro reiterated, "I advise him to read thoroughly on Colombia and determine where the drug traffickers are and where the democrats are."
This verbal confrontation follows a recent incident where a submarine was bombed by U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea as part of the so-called "war against the cartels." Washington claimed the vessel was transporting drugs from Venezuela, but Petro contends the attack occurred in Colombian territorial waters, with a Colombian and an Ecuadorian among the survivors.
Petro condemned this as a violation of national sovereignty and demanded explanations from the U.S. government. Meanwhile, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth confirmed a seventh unauthorized military operation against a suspected "ELN narco-boat," bringing the death toll from such actions to 33.
The clash between Trump and Petro reignites a diplomatic conflict that now includes the decertification of Colombia in drug war efforts, the revocation of Petro's visa, and a growing deterioration in a historically crucial relationship for regional security.
Key Questions on Petro and Trump's Diplomatic Clash
What did Trump accuse Petro of?
Trump accused Petro of being a "leader of drug trafficking" who promotes massive drug production across Colombia.
How did Petro respond to Trump's accusations?
Petro responded by asserting that Trump is misled by his advisors and urged him to understand the true situation in Colombia.
What incident has escalated the tension between the U.S. and Colombia?
The tension escalated after a U.S. military operation bombed a submarine in the Caribbean, which Petro claims was in Colombian waters.