Colombian president responds to Trump's 'drug leader' accusations

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has publicly responded to what he described as baseless accusations from US President Donald Trump, who recently labeled him a "drug leader" and "illegal drug dealer." In a statement issued on Sunday, Petro drew a clear distinction between Trump personally and the United States as a nation, emphasizing that "the problem is with Trump, not with the US."

Defending Colombia's Record and Character

Petro firmly rejected Trump's characterization of both him personally and Colombia's governance. "I am neither a businessperson nor a drug trafficker. There is no greed in my heart," he stated in his social media response. The Colombian leader maintained that his country "has never been rude to the US; on the contrary, it has always admired its culture," while expressing respect for "the history, culture, and people of the US."

Dispute Over Caribbean Incident

The diplomatic exchange included conflicting accounts of a recent maritime incident in the Caribbean. Petro challenged Trump's assertion that a boat targeted by US forces belonged to the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, instead identifying the vessel as belonging to a "humble fisherman from Santa Marta." He directly questioned what explanation would be offered to the fisherman's family, framing the incident within Colombia's historical significance as "the land where Bolívar died."

Broader Context of Bilateral Relations

Trump's accusations were accompanied by an announcement that the United States would terminate all financial assistance to Colombia, alleging that Petro promotes "large- and small-scale drug production" and claiming narcotics had become "Colombia's biggest business." The US president issued a blunt warning that Colombia should "close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for you." This confrontation follows the US's September decision to decertify Colombia as a counter-narcotics partner, though Washington had previously indicated aid would continue based on national interest considerations.