Colombia’s President Rejects Trump’s Drug Claims, Calls Remarks Defamatory
Colombian leader rejects US president's drug trafficking accusations.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro firmly dismissed threats issued by United States President Donald Trump following accusations of involvement in drug trafficking. The exchange intensified regional tensions after American military operations in Venezuela the previous day. Petro's response emphasized rejection of the claims and called for cessation of personal attacks.
Trump, addressing reporters aboard Air Force One, described Colombia as severely afflicted and labeled Petro as deeply involved in cocaine production and distribution to the United States. He suggested that such activities would not persist and hinted at potential military intervention akin to the recent action in Venezuela, citing unsubstantiated claims of widespread harm inflicted by the Colombian leadership.
In a direct rebuttal posted on the social media platform X, Petro asserted that no judicial records implicated him in illicit activities and demanded that Trump halt the defamatory statements. He underscored his background in Colombia's historical struggles for peace, positioning the threats as inappropriate toward a democratically elected Latin American leader.
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Petro further condemned the United States' military incursion into Caracas on January 3, 2026, which resulted in the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. He characterized the operation as an unlawful abduction and stated that genuine alliances do not involve acts of aggression, reinforcing his stance against external interference in sovereign affairs.
Colombia's Foreign Ministry labeled Trump's remarks as intolerable meddling and insisted on mutual respect between the nations. Despite longstanding military and economic partnerships, relations have deteriorated since Trump's second term began, with ongoing disputes over trade policies and immigration exacerbating the divide.
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