The President of Colombia has cautioned President Donald Trump about the potential consequences of his statement suggesting military action against countries involved in drug production for the US market.
During a recent cabinet meeting, Trump indicated a readiness to launch military strikes against land targets in Venezuela as part of an intensified “war on drugs” in Latin America. Responding to a query on the scope of military operations, Trump referenced Colombia as a producer of cocaine, warning that any country involved in such activities and supplying drugs to the US could face military action.
In response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro rebuked Trump via social media, stating that threatening their sovereignty equates to a declaration of war and could harm long-standing diplomatic ties between the nations.
Petro extended an invitation to Trump to visit Colombia and witness firsthand the efforts being made to dismantle drug laboratories on a daily basis to prevent the flow of cocaine into the US.
Colombia, a major cocaine producer and Venezuela’s neighboring country, plays a significant role in the global drug trade, with most of the illicit substances passing through Mexico or Central America before reaching the US.
While historically allies, tensions have arisen between Colombia and the US, particularly since Trump’s presidency and Petro’s assumption of office as Colombia’s first left-wing president. The strained relations were evident when Petro blocked the landing of two military deportation flights and later lifted the ban following Trump’s tariff threats.
Recent clashes between the leaders include Petro’s participation in a pro-Palestine rally in New York, where he urged US soldiers to defy Trump’s orders. Trump retaliated by labeling Petro an “illegal drug leader” and issuing threats of sanctions after Petro criticized US military actions in Venezuela.
The Pentagon’s deployment of a naval force of around 15,000 troops near Venezuela in the Caribbean, targeting alleged drug vessels, has resulted in over 80 casualties.
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