Donald Trump (AP image)
US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, using harsh words over cocaine trafficking into the United States. The remarks come as Washington’s tensions with Latin American country deepens, following its ongoing standoff with Venezuela.Speaking on Monday from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump accused Colombia of allowing drug production and exports to the US, directly targeting Petro’s leadership.
“He has to watch because he’s got drug factories. He’s no friend to the United States,” Trump said. Trump’s remarks mark an escalation in a months-long feud between the two leaders, with the US administration intensifying pressure on Colombia through threats of sanctions and even military action, as reported by Axios. “We love the Colombian people, but their new leader is a troublemaker, and he better watch it,” Trump told reporters later on Monday.Claiming Colombia has at least three major cocaine manufacturing facilities, Trump said US authorities are aware of their locations. “We know where they are. He better close them up fast,” he added. Colombia has historically been one of Washington’s closest allies in Latin America. However, relations have deteriorated since Petro, the country’s first leftist president, took office in 2022. Petro is seen as an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, another frequent target of Trump’s criticism.The latest exchange follows earlier warnings by Trump that countries sending illegal drugs into the US could face military strikes.Speaking during a cabinet meeting earlier this month, Trump said, “Anybody that’s doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack,” referring to cocaine shipments from Colombia. These comments came as the US military continues missile strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.Petro has strongly pushed back against Trump’s accusations, accusing Washington of threatening Colombia’s sovereignty. In a post on X, he said that Colombia destroys a drug-production laboratory every 40 minutes “without missiles” and invited Trump to witness the operations himself. “Come to Colombia, Mr. Trump… but do not threaten our sovereignty, because you will awaken the Jaguar,” Petro wrote. He also warned that any attack on Colombia would amount to a declaration of war.Petro has also accused the Trump administration of violating international norms. In September, he said the US breached the United Nations’ “founding principles” after the State Department announced it would revoke his visa. A month later, Petro alleged that US forces bombed a Colombian boat carrying civilians during operations targeting suspected drug smugglers near Venezuela.The dispute is unfolding amid rising regional tensions, with the US increasing its naval presence in the Caribbean while accusing Venezuela of enabling drug flows into the United States. Maduro has denied the claims, but Trump has repeatedly suggested that US intervention in Venezuela remains an option.Earlier this month, Trump widened his warning beyond Caracas. “I hear the country of Colombia is making cocaine… and then they sell us their cocaine,” he said. Petro responded with renewed caution, stating, “Do not threaten our sovereignty, or you will awaken the Jaguar. Attacking our sovereignty is declaring war. Attacking our sovereignty is declaring war; do not damage two centuries of diplomatic relations.” Go to Source
