US President Donald Trump has ignited a diplomatic firestorm after accusing Colombia’s President of being an “illegal drug dealer,” just hours after the US military confirmed a strike on a vessel allegedly linked to a Colombian rebel group. The remarks, delivered during a rally in Florida on Sunday, have prompted an outraged response from Bogotá and cast a shadow over US–US-Colombian relations.
A blunt accusation following a military strike
President Trump, addressing supporters, said the US would “cut every dollar of aid to corrupt drug regimes” and accused Colombia’s leadership of “betraying the United States while flooding our streets with poison.” The comments came shortly after Fox News host Pete Hegseth reported that US forces had struck a vessel tied to Colombian rebels, killing three “terrorists” believed to be involved in arms and narcotics trafficking.
The Pentagon later confirmed that a naval operation had taken place in the Caribbean targeting a “rebel logistics vessel,” though it did not name the group involved. Officials declined to comment on casualties or on the President’s remarks, which appeared to have been made before an official briefing.
Colombia denounces ‘offensive and false’ claims
Colombia’s government responded swiftly, calling Trump’s statements “offensive, false, and deeply damaging to diplomatic trust.” The presidential palace issued a statement emphasising that Colombia “remains committed to fighting drug trafficking in cooperation with the United States” and condemned “any insinuation of criminal involvement by its elected leadership.”
Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo announced that Colombia would request an official explanation from Washington, warning that the accusations “risk destabilising one of the most important strategic partnerships in the Western Hemisphere.”
White House seeks to calm tensions
Senior administration officials sought to downplay the controversy, stating that the President’s comments “reflected frustration over ongoing cartel activity” rather than a direct accusation of wrongdoing by Colombia’s government. The State Department reiterated its “strong alliance with Colombia,” highlighting decades of collaboration on security and counter-narcotics operations.
Analysts, however, warned that Trump’s rhetoric could undermine regional cooperation at a sensitive moment, particularly as Colombia continues peace talks with armed factions and prepares for new trade negotiations with the United States.
Strategic partnership under strain
The diplomatic fallout underscores the fragility of US–Colombian relations under Trump’s renewed hard-line stance on narcotics and border security. While Washington remains Bogotá’s largest security partner, this latest exchange exposes how quickly political tensions can flare when domestic politics and foreign policy collide.
Newshub Editorial in Latin America – 20 October 2025
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