Colombia’s President Responds to Trump’s Drug Trafficking Remarks
Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro issued a warning on Tuesday, suggesting that he might “wake up the jaguars” in response to comments made by former President Donald Trump about drug trafficking from Colombia to the United States.
Trump addressed reporters following a Cabinet meeting, specifically mentioning Colombia, which is known as the world’s largest cocaine producer. He said, “I heard that a country called Colombia makes cocaine. They have a cocaine manufacturing plant, right? And they sell us cocaine. We’re very grateful for that.”
He continued, “But yes, anyone who does that and sells it to our country will be subject to attack.”
Trump’s remarks seem to have sparked anger from Petro, a staunch advocate for legalization, as well as someone who has controversially claimed that cocaine is “less harmful” than sugar.
Petro frequently uses social media as a platform and has previously caused diplomatic tension through his use of strong language. He reacted to Trump’s statements by inviting him to “take part in the destruction of nine laboratories that we dismantle every day to prevent cocaine from entering the United States.”
He noted that U.S. military actions against drug trafficking in the Caribbean persist and claimed Colombia has destroyed 18,400 drug production labs “without the use of missiles.”
In his message, Petro cautioned Trump, stating, “Don’t threaten our sovereignty, because you will wake up the jaguar,” a sentiment he has reiterated over the last few days.
Petro expressed that undermining his country’s sovereignty represents a declaration of war. He added, “Do not jeopardize two centuries of diplomatic relations.” He concluded by insisting that Colombia has played a crucial role in reducing the flow of cocaine into the U.S.
As Colombia’s first leftist president and a former member of the Marxist M19 group, Petro has been vocal in his criticism of Trump, especially since Trump returned to the White House in January. He has accused Trump of “murder” related to U.S. military engagement against drug traffickers, arguing that those targeted were not merely traffickers but part of the community’s workforce.
Petro’s lenient drug policies have been linked to a record increase in cocaine production, according to the latest findings from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Former officials in Petro’s government have even suggested he may have personal issues related to drug use.
In September, Trump noted the rise in cocaine production and remarked on Congress designating Colombia and other nations due to non-compliance with international anti-drug agreements.
Moreover, in October, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control moved to penalize Petro for actions that contribute to the spread of illegal drugs globally.
