President Donald Trump announced on October 19, 2025, that the United States will stop all financial aid and subsidies to Colombia, accusing President Gustavo Petro of encouraging drug production. Trump labeled Petro an 'illegal drug leader' and threatened US intervention if Colombia does not act. The move comes amid heightened US efforts against narcotics trafficking.
On October 19, 2025, President Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform to declare an end to US payments and subsidies to Colombia, citing the country's failure to address surging cocaine production. '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,' Trump wrote. He described drug production as 'the biggest business in Colombia, by far,' and claimed Petro 'does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America.'
Trump emphasized the impact on the US, stating, 'The purpose of this drug production is the sale of massive amounts of product into the United States, causing death, destruction, and havoc.' He issued a stark warning: 'Petro, a low rated and very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America, better close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.' As of that day, 'THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLOMBIA.'
This announcement followed a US military drone strike on October 17, 2025, targeting a drug-carrying submarine in the Caribbean. Trump described the vessel as loaded with mostly fentanyl and other narcotics, carrying four narcoterrorists; two were killed, and the survivors were returned to Ecuador and Colombia. He claimed the strike prevented at least 25,000 American deaths.
Tensions between the leaders have escalated. Last month, the Trump administration revoked Petro's US visa over 'reckless and incendiary actions' in New York City. Petro has criticized US drone strikes on Caribbean boats, calling for criminal proceedings against US officials, including Trump, during a UN General Assembly speech. He denied claims that passengers on one targeted boat were Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang members. The Colombian Embassy and White House did not immediately comment.