U.S. President Donald Trump escalated a fast-moving dispute with Bogotá, declaring he will “stop all payments” to Colombia and unveil higher tariffs, while labeling Colombian President Gustavo Petro “an illegal drug leader.”

Colombia rejected the charge and vowed to defend its autonomy as legal and human-rights concerns mount over recent U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean.

Trump’s Charge and the Tariff Threat

Speaking to reporters, Trump said Colombia has “no fight against drugs” and is “a drug-manufacturing machine,” adding that he would announce tariff hikes “on Monday.”

On social media, he wrote in capital letters: “AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLOMBIA,” and warned Petro to “better close up” drug operations “or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.”

Bogotá Pushes Back, Cites Sovereignty

Petro responded that “Colombia has never been rude to the United States,” calling Trump “rude and ignorant toward Colombia,” and described himself as “the main enemy” of drugs in his country.

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry said the accusations “undermine the dignity of the president of Colombians” and constitute a direct threat to sovereignty, pledging to seek international support in defense of the country’s autonomy.

Strikes at Sea and a Wider Rift

Hours after Trump’s posts, the U.S. defense chief said a boat linked to a Colombian rebel group had been destroyed in the Caribbean, killing three people—an assertion offered without cited evidence. Petro disputed the claim, saying the boat belonged to a “humble family.”

The confrontation follows a series of U.S. strikes on alleged traffickers since early September and comes as UN data show coca cultivation reached an all-time high last year, intensifying pressure on Petro’s security strategy.