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Agence France-Presse

Colombia’s leftist president ramped up denunciations of Donald Trump’s anti-drug air strikes and swatted aside US threats to freeze hundreds of millions of dollars in aid Thursday.
Fuelling a spat that threatens to shatter ties between the long-allied nations, Gustavo Petro said: “Mr Trump has slandered me and insulted Colombia”.
Petro accused Trump of “carrying out extrajudicial executions” that “violate international law” by striking alleged drug-trafficking boats.
The US has destroyed nine vessels and killed at least 37 people in under two months, according to US government accounts.

“The deaths keep increasing like a taxi meter,” Petro said.
At least one Colombian is among the dead, a fisherman who Petro now admits may have become involved in trafficking “intermittently” to escape poverty.
Colombia has publicly demanded that Washington halt the attacks, infuriating Trump, who has branded Petro a “thug” and drug trafficker.
As retribution, Trump has announced an end to hundreds of millions of dollars of US aid to Colombia and threatened tariffs on Colombian goods.
If enacted, the cuts would stifle decades of security cooperation to curb the flow of cocaine from the world’s biggest producer, Colombia, to its biggest consumer, the United States.
Petro dismissed the impact of aid cuts, saying the cash goes to fund US non-governmental groups and to buy US arms.

Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out yet another lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO). Yet again, the now-deceased terrorists were engaged in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific.
The… pic.twitter.com/PEaKmakivD
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 23, 2025

“What happens if they take away the aid? In my opinion, nothing,” he said.
The United States provided Colombia with almost US$750 million in aid in 2023, according to US figures.
There are growing fears among Colombia’s allies that a withdrawal of US funds could harm years-long efforts to stop the country from sliding back into conflict.
Despite peace accords a decade ago, pockets of the country are still controlled by guerillas, cartels, and other armed groups.
The United States and other donors provide military aid as well as funding for coca eradication and demobilisation projects.
Petro - a former guerilla who will leave office after the May elections - has not shied away from the feud, which plays well with some of his core left-wing supporters.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted Petro’s renewed attacks Thursday: “I don’t think we’re seeing a de-escalation from the unhinged leader of Colombia right now”.
Petro also lashed out at Trump’s September decision to put Colombia on a list of countries classified as not helping in the drug war.
Describing it as “an insult”, he insisted Colombia was successfully countering cartels, despite cocaine production and exports hitting record levels.
“We have been the most effective in cocaine seizures in world history,” Petro claimed, adding that Trump was being fed misinformation by his opponents on Colombia’s “far-right”.
He said they aimed to influence Colombia’s 2026 presidential election, to “strike Colombian progressivism and seize oil wells” in Venezuela.
Trump has said he is preparing attacks against traffickers operating on land, claiming maritime routes are being reduced.
“Any ground aggression is invasion and a rupture of national sovereignty,” warned Petro.
Behind the scenes diplomats from both countries have been working to keep relations from rupturing completely.
On Thursday a string of Colombian ministers met with the top US diplomat in Bogota, for what the Colombian foreign ministry called a “frank dialogue”.
They announced Colombia’s ambassador to the United States Daniel Garcia-Pena would return to Washington, after being recalled in protest.


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United States

Colombia’s Petro accuses Trump of ‘extrajudicial executions’ in boat strikes

This screen grab from a video posted by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth this week shows a vessel moments before it is hit in a US strike. Photo: US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth via X

Colombian President Gustavo Petro during a press conference with international media in Bogota on Thursday. Photo: EPA

US Air Force personnel load missiles onto an MQ-9 Reaper drone at Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Photo: Reuters

US widens campaign on suspected drug boats with first lethal strikes in Pacific Ocean

This screen grab from a video posted by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth shows what Hegseth says is a vessel moments before it is hit in a US strike. Photo: US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth via X

A US MQ-9 Reaper drone prepares for take-off from Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Photo: Reuters

US President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro have exchanged heated words over the US strikes in the region. Photo: AFP

Trump threatens Colombia with tariffs and slashes aid, calls Petro a ‘drug leader’

US President Donald Trump referred to Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro as ‘an illegal drug leader’ who is ‘low rated and very unpopular’. Photo: AFP

Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Photo: EPA

US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One. Photo: AP

US Air Force personnel load missiles onto a MQ-9 Reaper drone at Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Photo: Reuters

Colombia recalls ambassador to US as Trump-Petro feud over tariffs, drugs intensifies

Colombian President, Gustavo Petro (left), has called US President Trump’s comments about him being an “illegal drug leader” offensive. Photo: AFP

Colombia’s foreign ministry announced on Monday that it has recalled its ambassador to the United States, Daniel Garcia-Pena. Photo: Handout.

The Pentagon on October 18 posted a short black-and-white video of the strike on an alleged drug-carrying submersible in the Caribbean. Photo: US Department of Defence.

Air strikes and insults: Trump’s feud with Colombia threatens decades-long alliance

Colombian President Gustavo Petro meeting with US charge d’affaires John McNamara at the presidential palace. Photo: Colombian Presidency via Reuters

An unmanned semi-submersible between two Colombian Navy boats on July 2, 2025. Photo: Colombian Navy via AFP

US Marines come ashore from a landing craft during training exercises in Puerto Rico. Photo: Reuters

US strike in Caribbean kills Colombian fisherman, stoking sovereignty row

Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks during a public event in Bogota on Friday. Photo: EPA

A video released by the US Department of Defence shows a precision strike destroying an alleged narcotics vessel in international waters on September 2. Photo: Department of Defence/TNS

News

World

Americas

United States & Canada

Fuelling a spat with Trump, Colombia’s president said the US military’s anti-drug campaign, which has killed dozens, violates international law


Fuelling a spat with Trump, Colombia’s president said the US military’s anti-drug campaign, which has killed dozens, violates international law.


Colombia’s Petro accuses Trump of ‘extrajudicial executions’ in boat strikes

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Fuelling a spat with Trump, Colombia’s president said the US military’s anti-drug campaign, which has killed dozens, violates international law

Fuelling a spat with Trump, Colombia’s president said the US military’s anti-drug campaign, which has killed dozens, violates international law