President Donald Trump declared Sunday he will cut off American aid to “Columbia” and levy new tariffs on the country, branding its leader an “illegal drug leader” in a sharp escalation that coincides with a major military buildup targeting Venezuela’s government.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed Petro has failed to curb the country’s drug trade despite receiving American financial assistance. Trump warned that Petro should shut down drug operations immediately, “or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.”
Colombia’s Foreign Ministry denounced Trump’s statement as an assault on the country’s sovereignty, describing the accusations as gravely serious and insulting to Colombia’s president. Petro responded on social media, saying Trump was “rude and ignorant” about Colombia while denying any involvement in drug trafficking.
The clash follows weeks of tensions over U.S. military strikes on boats in Caribbean waters. Petro has accused American forces of killing Colombian fishermen, while the Trump administration maintains the vessels were involved in drug trafficking.
The confrontation with Colombia comes as the US has deployed thousands of Marines, multiple warships, submarines and aircraft to the Caribbean in what officials initially described as counter-drug operations. Administration sources have since acknowledged the deployment serves a broader strategy to pressure Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to step down.
Trump confirmed Wednesday he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, refusing to rule out strikes on Venezuelan territory. B-52 bombers flew near Venezuela’s coast Wednesday in an apparent show of force.
Related: US-Venezuela standoff escalates as Trump authorizes CIA
The US has conducted at least six strikes on vessels in the region since early September, resulting in nearly 30 deaths. The administration claims the boats were transporting narcotics, though it has not provided public evidence.
Venezuela has mobilized what Maduro claims are millions of militia members in response, calling the US actions an invasion of sovereignty. Colombian President Petro initially suggested any attack on Venezuela would represent an attack on Latin America.
Dozens of advocacy organizations warned Congress in a letter this month that the operations risk escalating into “a full-blown limitless war” in the region.
The head of US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the Caribbean, announced his retirement Thursday after one year in the position. Sources told CNN tensions had emerged between the admiral and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the legality and execution of the strikes.
Analysts note the US does not currently have sufficient forces deployed to conduct a ground invasion of Venezuela, though the assets in place could support air strikes or missile attacks from offshore positions.
Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst for the Andes region at International Crisis Group, called it “befuddling and profoundly unwise” for the United States to alienate Colombia at a time when tensions with Venezuela are at their highest point in recent years.
Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine exporter, with coca cultivation reaching record levels last year according to United Nations data.
Trump cited two main justifications for his Venezuela policy: allegations that the country emptied prisons and sent criminals to the United States, and claims that Maduro’s government is complicit in drug trafficking.
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