'An illegal drug leader': Trump lashes out at Colombia's prez; halts US aid to the country

US President Donald Trump lashed out at Colombia’s leader, Gustavo Petro, calling him “an illegal drug leader” and announcing that the United States will cut all aid to the South American nation. Trump made the declaration on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, accusing Petro of encouraging “the massive production of drugs, in big and small fields, all over Columbia (sic).”

The 47th POTUS, wrote: “Petro does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America. AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLUMBIA (sic).”




He added that Petro, “a low rated and very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America, better close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The move marks the latest sign of tension between Washington and one of its closest allies in Latin America. Colombia is the world’s largest exporter of cocaine, with coca cultivation hitting record levels last year, according to the United Nations. The Trump administration had previously accused Bogotá of failing to cooperate in the drug war, although a waiver issued in September temporarily avoided sanctions.

The announcement comes amid controversy over a series of U.S. military strikes in Caribbean waters targeting suspected drug traffickers. Earlier this week, Trump claimed credit for destroying a “very large DRUG-CARRYING SUBMARINE” carrying fentanyl and other narcotics. “There were four known narcoterrorists on board the vessel. Two of the terrorists were killed,” he wrote, adding that the remaining two survivors, from Ecuador and Colombia, would be returned “for detention and prosecution.” He estimated that the interdiction potentially saved “at least 25,000 Americans.”

Petro has sharply criticised the strikes, accusing the United States of killing an innocent Colombian fisherman, Alejandro Carranza, in a September 16 attack. Petro wrote on X: “The United States has invaded our national territory, fired a missile to kill a humble fisherman, and destroyed his family, his children. This is Bolívar’s homeland, and they are murdering his children with bombs.” He has demanded legal action and explanations from the U.S. government.

While Washington insists the operations are targeting narcotics traffickers, evidence linking the victims to drug smuggling has not been publicly provided. According to Al Jazeera, the recent strike brings the total number of people killed in U.S. operations against suspected smuggling vessels since September to at least 29.