Colombia has decided to recall its ambassador from the United States amid escalating tensions and comments from President Donald Trump regarding its leadership.
Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapi announced this on Monday, stating that Ambassador Daniel García-Peña is returning to Bogota for discussions with President Gustavo Petro Urego.
The move follows Trump labeling Petro as “an illegal drug leader,” claiming he promotes the mass production of narcotics throughout Colombia. Trump expressed his remarks on Truth Social, criticizing the country’s drug trade, stating, “Colombia has become Colombia’s biggest business by far, and Petro is doing nothing to stop it.” He further declared that U.S. financial support to Colombia would end immediately.
Continuing his critique, Trump said the drug trade is solely focused on supplying the U.S., leading to “death, destruction, and mayhem.” He warned that if Petro doesn’t take action against drug production sites, the U.S. would intervene.
In reaction to a U.S. military operation that resulted in casualties during the targeting of a suspected drug vessel, Petro contended that the boat belonged to a “poor family” and not to rebels. In a response on Show X, he addressed Trump directly, saying, “You are disrespectful and ignorant towards Colombia… I’m not a businessman, I’m not a drug trafficker. Greed is not in my heart.”
Petro and Trump have clashed previously, with Petro defending Colombia’s efforts against drug trafficking, asserting that promoting peace isn’t equated with being involved in the drug trade. He suggested that Trump might be receiving misleading information from his advisors and reiterated that he considers himself an opponent of drug trafficking within his country.
