President Trump announced on Sunday that the United States will terminate all subsidies and financial payments to Colombia, accusing President Gustavo Petro of acting as an “illegal drug leader” who fails to prevent widespread narcotics production on Colombian soil. He argued that U.S. aid to Colombia has become a “rip-off of America.”
The decision is tied to escalating tensions between the two nations, including Colombia’s condemnation of recent U.S. strikes in Caribbean waters and assertions of sovereignty violations. Although Colombia has traditionally been one of the United States’ closest allies in counter-narcotics efforts, the Trump administration says it remains unconvinced of the current government’s commitment to tackling drug trafficking. The exact amount of aid impacted was not specified.