Accused of murder: “Illegal drug lord”
Donald Trump
Accused of murder: “Illegal drug lord”
War of words between the presidents – accuses the US of murder
Published 18.26
Donald Trump is in an open war of words with Gustavo Petro.
First, the Colombian president accused the US of murder.
Trump then responded by calling Petro an “illegal drug lord”.
The US has recently increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea.
Donald Trump has targeted what the US president believes is boat traffic with illegal drugs from Colombia and Venezuela. US troops have subsequently attacked several ships in the region, leading to many deaths.
The Trump administration has not yet presented evidence that the ships were transporting drugs to the US, and according to The New York Times, several legal experts describe the attacks as illegal.
“Has committed murder”
The developments in the region have made Colombian President Gustavo Petro furious against the United States.
On social media, the president writes that American officials have committed a murder and refers to a boat attack in mid-September.
“American government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters,” Petro writes.
In the post, the president writes that American troops fired on a fishing boat and killed a Colombian fisherman with no connection to the drug trade, reports the BBC.
“The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal triggered due to an engine failure. We are waiting for explanations from the American government,” Petro added.
Trump’s response: “Illegal drug lord”
After Petro’s accusation, Trump’s response was not long in coming.
In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump said that Petro is not doing enough to stop the production of illegal drugs in the country and called him an “illegal drug lord.”
“President Gustavo Petro is an illegal drug lord who strongly encourages the massive production of drugs, in large and small areas, all over Colombia,” Trump wrote.
The American president also wrote that the United States will stop aid to Colombia, which has long been one of the largest recipients of American aid to combat drug production. On Air Force One, Trump later told reporters that he will also announce new tariffs on Colombian goods, The New York Times reports.
On Monday, Colombia responded by recalling its ambassador to the United States, the country's foreign ministry said, citing Reuters.
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