Colombia and U.S. Face Diplomatic Crisis as Trump and Petro Exchange Accusations
Washington/Bogotá - October 23, 2025 – A sharp exchange of accusations between U.S.President Donald Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro has plunged relations between the two historically allied nations into their worst crisis in decades. The dispute escalated Wednesday after Trump publicly labeled Petro a “thug” and announced a halt to all payments to Colombia.
Petro responded via social media, stating he will “defend himself judicially” in the United States with American lawyers, addressing what he called “slander” from senior U.S. officials.
The conflict follows Trump’s earlier accusations that Petro is a “drug trafficking leader,” leading to the removal of Colombia’s certification as an anti-drug ally and the revocation of Petro’s U.S.visa.
Colombian Ambassador to Washington,Daniel García-Peña,expressed concern that Trump’s rhetoric mirrors accusations leveled against Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro,whom the U.S. government accuses of leading a drug cartel. “accusing Petro of being a drug lord ‘makes no sense,'” García-Peña said in an interview with AFP in Bogotá. He added that the similar treatment is “dangerous.”
Legal challenges to Petro’s planned lawsuit are anticipated, given Trump’s claim to presidential immunity and the protections afforded by the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of speech.
Despite decades of cooperation in combating drug trafficking and strong trade ties, the current situation marks a significant downturn in U.S.-Colombia relations. trump further warned, “He better watch out, because we will take very serious action against him and his country.”
