On the 2nd, Colombian President Petro warned via social media not to threaten Colombia’s sovereignty, saying, “Infringing on our sovereignty means war.”
He made this response to US President Trump’s remarks on the 2nd, claiming that Colombia might “suffer an attack” because of its drug problem.
Petro said that the Colombian government has destroyed 18,400 drug production sites.
He invited Trump to Colombia to “personally witness the daily destruction of nine sites,” and pointed out that Colombia has intercepted thousands of tons of cocaine heading for the United States.
He added that previous US remarks about him personally have constituted defamation and should not continue down the wrong path.
On October 19 and 22 this year, Trump twice publicly declared that Petro is a “drug lord.” He also threatened that he might take “very severe actions” against Petro and Colombia, and announced that all aid to Colombia had been cut off.
Colombia was once a traditional US ally in Latin America, but relations between the two countries have become strained recently. The US has recently attacked several ships in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific under the pretext of “fighting drug trafficking,” including Colombian vessels. In addition to suspending aid, Trump has also threatened to impose tariffs on Colombia.