Trump Shakes Up U.S.-Colombia Relations with New Tariffs and Aid Cut: NPR

Palm Beach, Florida – President Donald Trump announced a significant reduction in U.S. aid to Colombia alongside the imposition of tariffs on Colombian exports, citing the administration’s frustration with President Gustavo Petro’s failure to curb drug production. This move marks a sharp escalation in tensions between the United States and one of its key Latin American partners.

In a pointed message on social media, Trump labeled Petro as an “illegal drug leader,” criticizing his popularity and effectiveness. He issued a stern warning that if Petro does not take decisive action to halt drug operations, the U.S. will intervene directly, and “it won’t be done nicely.”

Later, aboard Air Force One, Trump reiterated his harsh assessment, describing Colombia as a “drug manufacturing hub” led by a “lunatic” president. He confirmed plans to announce new tariffs the following day.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed the latest U.S. military strike targeting a vessel reportedly transporting a large quantity of narcotics. The boat was allegedly linked to the National Liberation Army (ELN), a Colombian rebel faction currently in conflict with Petro’s administration. Although Hegseth did not present concrete evidence, he shared footage showing a boat engulfed in flames following an explosion on Friday.

Petro, known for his outspoken presence on social media, firmly rejected Trump’s allegations, defending his administration’s efforts to combat narcotics in Colombia, the world’s leading cocaine exporter.

“Advocating for peace in Colombia does not equate to being a drug trafficker,” Petro stated. He suggested that Trump was misled by his advisors, asserting that he is the country’s foremost opponent of drug trafficking and criticized the U.S. president for his “rude and uninformed” remarks about Colombia.

The Colombian Foreign Ministry condemned Trump’s comments as a “direct threat to national sovereignty,” accusing the U.S. of proposing an unlawful intervention. Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized Colombia’s commitment, highlighting the sacrifices made by security forces in the fight against drug trafficking.

Trump’s recent denunciations signal a potential widening of discord in Latin America, where the U.S. has already intensified pressure on Venezuela and its leader Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. military presence in the region includes naval vessels, fighter jets, and drones, all part of what the administration describes as an “armed conflict” against drug cartels. Covert operations authorized by Trump have also taken place within Venezuela.

Unlike Venezuela, Colombia has traditionally been a steadfast U.S. ally and the largest recipient of American aid in the region. However, coca cultivation surged to record levels last year, according to the United Nations, and violence has flared in rural zones previously pacified by a decade-old peace agreement with insurgents.

In September, the Trump administration accused Colombia of insufficient cooperation in the drug war but temporarily waived sanctions that would have trump-labels-colombias-petro-drug-leader-us-cuts-aid/” title=”… Labels …'s … a 'Drug Leader' and Threatens to Slash US …”>cut aid.

Colombia’s U.S. aid dropped to approximately $230 million in the fiscal year ending September 30, a steep decline from over $700 million in previous years, according to U.S. data.

As Colombia’s first left-wing president, Petro has clashed repeatedly with Trump throughout the year. Petro initially opposed U.S. military flights carrying deported migrants, prompting Trump to threaten tariffs. The U.S. State Department also announced plans to revoke Petro’s visa after he urged American soldiers to defy Trump’s orders during the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

The two leaders have also disputed over U.S. strikes on vessels in the Caribbean. On Sunday, Petro accused the U.S. of carrying out an assassination, referencing a September 16 strike that reportedly killed Alejandro Carranza, a Colombian fisherman. Petro claimed Carranza had no links to drug trafficking and that his boat was experiencing mechanical issues when attacked.

“The United States has violated our sovereignty, launching a missile that killed a humble fisherman and shattered his family,” Petro wrote on social media. He vowed to seek justice through Colombia’s attorney general and international courts.

The White House and Pentagon have yet to comment on Petro’s allegations.

Despite Petro’s criticism, his government intends to prosecute a Colombian survivor of a recent U.S. strike on a drug-carrying submersible. Another survivor was repatriated to Ecuador, where authorities determined he had not committed crimes on Ecuadorian soil and will face no charges.

The ELN, targeted in Friday’s strike, has consistently denied involvement in drug trafficking and offered to undergo investigation by an international commission. Colombian officials frequently report dismantling cocaine labs and seizing narcotics linked to the guerrillas.

Since early September, the U.S. has conducted seven strikes in the region aimed at alleged drug traffickers, resulting in at least 32 fatalities.

Trump criticized Petro’s stance toward the U.S., lamenting that drug smuggling persists despite substantial American financial support, which he described as a “long-term ripoff.”

“Effective immediately, all payments and subsidies to Colombia will cease,” Trump declared.

Elizabeth Dickinson, senior analyst for the Andes at the International Crisis Group, called the U.S. approach “confounding and dangerously shortsighted,” especially amid heightened tensions with Venezuela.

She noted that the longstanding strategic partnership between Washington and Bogotá is being discarded, risking severe consequences.

Colombia already suffered major funding cuts earlier this year when Trump reduced the U.S. Agency for International Development’s budget. Further reductions could jeopardize military collaboration and undermine efforts against insurgent groups.

“If aid is further slashed, Colombia’s military and police will lose critical capabilities at a time when the country faces its most serious security challenges in over a decade,” Dickinson warned.