Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro, has strongly rejected threats from United States President Donald Trump, who accused him of being a drug trafficker and suggested that military action could also be taken against Colombia following a US assault on neighbouring Venezuela.
Petro’s reaction came on Sunday after Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, made inflammatory remarks against the Colombian leader, days after US forces carried out a surprise military operation in Caracas aimed at removing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from power.
Naijaonpoint learnt that in the early hours of Saturday, US forces reportedly bombed military targets in Caracas during what was described as a shock snatch-and-grab raid, aimed at asserting Washington’s control over the oil-rich South American nation and unseating Maduro.
The operation immediately raised tensions across the region, with leaders expressing concern over the growing militarisation of US foreign policy in Latin America.
While addressing journalists on Sunday, Trump turned his attention to Colombia, describing the country as “very sick” and accusing its president of running a narcotics operation.
“It’s run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” Trump said.
He went further to allege that Petro was directly involved in drug production.
“He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long,” Trump added.
When asked if Colombia could face a military intervention similar to Venezuela, the US president replied, “It sounds good to me.”
“You know why, because they kill a lot of people,” Trump claimed, without providing evidence.
In a swift response, Petro dismissed Trump’s claims and denied any link to drug trafficking.
“My name does not appear in court records,” the Colombian leader said.
Taking to social media platform 𝕏, Petro accused Trump of spreading falsehoods and issued a direct rebuke.
“Stop slandering me, Mr Trump,” he wrote.
Petro added that such rhetoric was unacceptable, especially given Colombia’s history.
“That’s not how you threaten a Latin American president who emerged from the armed struggle and then from the people of Colombia’s fight for peace,” he said.
Petro has been one of the most vocal critics of the Trump administration’s military actions in the region, particularly the operation in Venezuela.
He accused Washington of abducting President Maduro “without legal basis,” describing the attack as a violation of international norms.
In a later post on 𝕏 on Sunday, the Colombian president added pointedly, “Friends do not bomb.”
Colombia’s foreign ministry also reacted strongly to Trump’s comments, describing them as unacceptable interference in the country’s internal affairs.
In a statement, the ministry condemned the threats and demanded “respect” from Washington. The ministry warned that such statements undermine diplomatic norms and risk destabilising the region.
Naijaonpoint understands that Colombia and the United States are traditionally close military and economic allies in Latin America.
However, relations between the two countries have become increasingly strained in recent months.