The US suspends aid to Colombia. Trump: Petro is a drug kingpin

US President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of encouraging drug production in his country, calling him a “drug leader.” He announced the suspension of aid to Colombia and threatened that if Petro did not liquidate drug production plants, America would do it.

“President Gustavo Petro of Colombia is an illicit drug kingpin who strongly encourages the mass production of drugs, in large and small fields, throughout Colombia. This has become by far the biggest business in Colombia, and Petro is doing nothing to stop it, despite massive payments and subsidies from the US that amount to nothing more than a long-term rip-off from America.” – Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He announced that all “any payments or subsidies” to the country would cease.

“Petro, a low-rated and very unpopular leader, mouthing off to America, should close these killing fields immediately, otherwise the United States will close them to him, and that won't be nice,” the US president threatened.

Although Trump did not specify what payments he would withhold, Colombia is one of the largest allies and recipients of US military aid in Latin America. Colombia's leftist president has previously been accused of allowing the expansion of cocaine and other drug production in Colombia, much of which is smuggled to the United States.

Trump has already argued several times with Petro, known for his controversial statements. Early in his second term, the US president threatened to impose sanctions and tariffs on goods from Colombia when Petro refused to accept deported migrants handcuffed aboard military planes. In turn, during his speech at the UN General Assembly, Petro called for an investigation into what he considered to be illegal US strikes on boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea. He also took part in a street protest in New York, calling on American soldiers to disobey Trump's orders. After this incident, the US authorities revoked the visa of the Colombian leader.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

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