U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday night that he plans to raise tariffs on Colombia and halt all U.S. payments to the South American nation, intensifying tensions stemming from U.S. military strikes on vessels allegedly transporting drugs.
Earlier in the day, Trump referred to Colombian President Gustavo Petro as an “illegal drug leader,” while U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American forces had attacked a vessel linked to a Colombian rebel group. Petro and his government rejected the claim, insisting the boat belonged to a “humble family” and describing Trump’s comments as offensive.
“They don’t have a fight against drugs — they make drugs,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, accusing Colombia of complicity in illicit narcotics trade. Details of the proposed tariff increase were expected to be announced on Monday.
The dispute follows a series of controversial U.S. strikes in the Caribbean, which have killed dozens and drawn condemnation from legal experts and human rights advocates. Trump added that the U.S. would “drop all money that we’re giving” to Colombia, though it was unclear which aid programs he referred to. In previous years, Colombia had been one of the largest recipients of U.S. assistance in the Western Hemisphere, but aid flows were curtailed this year after the closure of USAID.
Colombia currently applies 10% tariffs on most U.S. imports, a baseline rate Trump has applied to several countries. In response, Colombia’s foreign ministry vowed to seek international support, calling Trump’s remarks “an extremely serious act” that undermines the dignity of the Colombian president.
The Pentagon confirmed that U.S. forces destroyed a vessel in the Caribbean on Friday, killing three people. Hegseth linked the ship to the leftist rebel group National Liberation Army and alleged its involvement in drug smuggling, though no evidence was provided. Petro condemned the bombing, emphasizing the vessel belonged to a family, not a rebel group, and denounced Trump’s comments as “rude and ignorant.”
Tensions between the two nations have escalated in recent months. The U.S. revoked Petro’s visa after he participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York, urging U.S. soldiers to disobey Trump’s orders. Meanwhile, Colombia continues to grapple with longstanding drug challenges, with Petro’s interventions in coca-growing regions yielding limited success.
Last month, the U.S. designated countries including Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, and Venezuela as failing to uphold counter-narcotics agreements, further straining diplomatic relations.
