Relations between the United States and Colombia are tense again. Republican senator Lindsey Graham stated that President Donald Trump plans to impose additional tariffs on Colombia due to what he perceives as insufficient action against drug trafficking.
Graham stated on his social networks that Trump "is the most consistent president in the fight against drugs" and that he intends "to hit Colombia, not just his drug traffickers and drug dealers, but also where it hurts most, in the pocket."
The announcement comes after a back-and-forth exchange of statements between Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Earlier, the U.S. president accused Petro of being a "drug trafficking leader" and announced plans to suspend financial aid to Colombia.
"President Gustavo Petro, of Colombia, is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs, in big and small fields, all over Colombia. 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 U.S. that are nothing more than a long-term rip-off of America," Trump wrote on his social networking site Truth Social.
"As of today, these payments, or any other form of subsidy, will no longer be made to Colombia," he added, and advised the Colombian leader to "close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won't be done nicely."
The Colombian foreign ministry condemned Trump's statements, considering them "a direct threat to national sovereignty." In a statement, the foreign ministry described the remarks as an act "of the utmost gravity" and stated they "go against the dignity of the president of the Colombian people."
"President Gustavo Petro has relentlessly led efforts against drug trafficking in our country, resulting in the largest seizures of illicit drugs in recent history," the official statement read.
The Colombian government also saw Trump's comments as a violation of international humanitarian law, suggesting a potential foreign intervention in Colombian territory.
Faced with the accusations, Gustavo Petro denied being involved in drug trafficking and responded with a call for dialogue. Through his social media, he invited Trump to "get to know the history of Colombia" and the country's efforts in the fight against drugs.
So far, there has been no specification of the type of tariffs or the percentage that would be applied to Colombian exports if the measure announced by Graham is implemented.
Source: frutasdechile.cl
