US President Donald Trump has accused Colombian President Gustavo Petro of being an "illegal drug leader" and enabling rampant drug production in Colombia. In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that the US will cease all subsidies to Colombia, stating, "It has become the biggest business in Colombia, by far, and Petro does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America."

Trump's comments come amid rising tensions between the US and Colombia, a key ally in Latin America. He warned Petro to take immediate action against drug operations, saying, "Petro better close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won't be done nicely."

The US President linked his accusations to a recent military operation targeting a semi-submersible vessel in the Caribbean, which he described as a strike against narcoterrorists. He stated that the vessel was carrying fentanyl and other narcotics, and confirmed that two crew members were killed while two others were rescued and will be sent back to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia.

Colombia's Defense Minister, Pedro Sánchez, defended Petro, asserting that Colombia has made significant efforts in the fight against drug trafficking. He stated, "If there’s a country that has used all its capabilities and also lost men and women fighting drug trafficking ... it’s Colombia."

In response to the US strikes, Petro accused the US government of committing acts of aggression and demanded accountability for the recent military actions that resulted in civilian casualties. He claimed that a Colombian fisherman was killed in a US strike and called for legal proceedings against the US for violating Colombia's sovereignty.

The US has intensified its military operations in the Caribbean, targeting vessels linked to drug trafficking, with at least 32 people reported killed in these strikes since September. Despite the US government's claims of targeting drug traffickers, there has been no evidence provided to confirm that those killed were involved in drug smuggling.

Colombia remains the world's largest exporter of cocaine, with coca cultivation reaching record levels last year, according to the United Nations. The ongoing conflict over drug production and trafficking continues to strain relations between the US and Colombia, as both nations grapple with the implications of the drug trade.