Trump Calls Colombia’s Petro ‘Illegal Drug Leader,’ Imposes Tariffs, Ends US Aid/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump announced the U.S. will end aid to Colombia and impose tariffs, calling President Gustavo Petro an “illegal drug leader.” The move intensifies tensions amid growing drug-related violence and strained U.S.-Colombia relations. Petro strongly rejected the accusations, calling them “rude and ignorant.”
Trump Cuts Colombia Aid Quick Looks
- Trump accuses Colombia’s President Petro of enabling drug production
- Announces new tariffs and immediate end to U.S. aid
- Petro calls accusations ignorant and defends anti-drug efforts
- Colombian Foreign Ministry condemns Trump’s remarks as threat to sovereignty
- U.S. strike destroys vessel tied to Colombian rebel group ELN
- Petro accuses U.S. of killing innocent fisherman in earlier strike
- Colombia remains world’s top cocaine exporter despite U.S. support
- Aid cut could hinder Colombian military and anti-narcotics efforts
- Petro and Trump have clashed repeatedly in 2025
- Analysts warn decision could destabilize Latin America relations further
Deep Look: Trump Cuts U.S. Aid, Accuses Colombia’s Petro of Drug Complicity
PALM BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2025) — President Donald Trump dramatically escalated tensions with Colombia on Sunday, accusing President Gustavo Petro of being an “illegal drug leader” and declaring an immediate halt to U.S. aid while announcing new tariffs on Colombian exports. The announcement reflects a sharp downturn in relations with a country long considered a vital U.S. ally in Latin America.
In a social media post, Trump described Petro as “very unpopular” and claimed he “does nothing to stop” Colombia’s booming drug production. “He better close up the drug operations—or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely,” Trump warned.
Later aboard Air Force One, Trump called Petro “a lunatic,” saying Colombia has become “a drug manufacturing machine” and lacks any real fight against narcotics. He confirmed that a new round of tariffs would be formally introduced Monday, adding that financial support from the U.S. to Colombia would end “effective immediately.”
U.S. Military Strike Sparks Controversy
On the same day, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared video footage of a U.S. strike on a vessel he claimed was linked to Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN), a guerrilla group that has historically been in conflict with the Colombian state. The brief clip showed a boat engulfed in flames following a missile strike. Hegseth did not present evidence linking the vessel to drug trafficking but emphasized it carried “substantial amounts of narcotics.”
The strike is part of a wider U.S. operation in the Caribbean and Latin America, where American military assets—including drones, jets, and naval ships—are engaged in what the Trump administration calls an “armed conflict” with drug cartels.
Petro Denounces Trump’s Claims
President Petro immediately fired back. In a social media post, he rejected Trump’s accusation and insisted he was leading a robust campaign against drug trafficking.
“Trying to promote peace in Colombia is not being a drug trafficker,” Petro said, adding that Trump was being “rude and ignorant toward Colombia.” He claimed U.S. advisers were misleading the American president and reiterated that he was “the main enemy of drugs” in the country.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry responded with strong language, calling Trump’s remarks a “direct threat to national sovereignty” and an illegal suggestion of intervention in Colombian territory. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez also defended Colombia’s record in the war on drugs, citing the loss of life among Colombian forces battling cartels and insurgents.
Cocaine Production Still Soars
Despite long-standing U.S. support, Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine exporter. According to the United Nations, coca cultivation in the country reached record highs last year, and violence has resurged in rural areas where the government had once brokered peace with rebel factions.
In September, the Trump administration formally accused Colombia of failing to meet its drug enforcement obligations, though it temporarily waived sanctions that would have triggered funding cuts. That waiver has now been revoked.
Colombia received approximately $230 million in U.S. aid in the 2025 fiscal year, down from over $700 million in prior years. That funding supports a range of programs, including military training, equipment, and rural development.
Accusations of Assassination and Sovereignty Violations
Further inflaming the situation, Petro accused the U.S. of killing a Colombian fisherman, Alejandro Carranza, during a September 16 strike in Caribbean waters. Petro said Carranza had no drug ties and that his boat was malfunctioning when hit by a U.S. missile.
“The United States has invaded our national territory, fired a missile to kill a humble fisherman, and destroyed his family,” Petro wrote. He pledged to seek legal action against the U.S. both internationally and in American courts.
The Pentagon has not responded to Petro’s accusations.
Despite Petro’s condemnation of U.S. military actions, his administration plans to prosecute a Colombian national who survived a more recent U.S. strike on a drug-laden submersible. Another survivor was sent back to Ecuador, where he won’t face charges.
Political Fallout and Diplomatic Risk
Petro and Trump have repeatedly clashed this year. Their disputes range from the treatment of deported migrants and U.S. military flights to the legality of American military actions in the region. Petro had previously refused U.S. deportation flights, prompting Trump to threaten trade tariffs and visa restrictions.
Trump now claims Colombia has abused U.S. generosity.
“These payments, or any other form of payment, or subsidies, will no longer be made to Colombia,” he wrote on Sunday, accusing the country of taking “large scale payments” while continuing to produce narcotics.
Experts Warn of Strategic Mistake
Elizabeth Dickinson, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, warned that the U.S. decision to alienate Colombia could have severe consequences.
“It is befuddling and profoundly unwise of the United States to alienate its strongest military partner in Latin America,” Dickinson said. “The wisdom of that long-standing alliance is being thrown out the window.”
She noted that the Colombian military and police rely heavily on U.S. cooperation and that cutting aid during a time of rising insecurity and rebel activity may cripple Colombia’s ability to maintain order.
“If that is cut, we will see a strategic loss of capability at precisely the moment when they’re confronting the greatest security crisis in over a decade,” she warned.
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