Colombia recalled Ambassador Daniel García Peña from Washington on October 20 after President Donald Trump branded President Gustavo Petro an "illegal drug leader" and pledged to halt all financial assistance whilst threatening fresh tariffs against the Andean nation.

The escalating confrontation centres on US military strikes in Caribbean waters near Venezuela that have killed at least 32 people across seven operations since early September. Trump stated on October 19 that Colombia would forfeit all "payments and subsidies," accusing Petro of enabling cocaine production despite receiving $740mn (COP2.9 trillion) annually—the highest in South America—with $370mn (COP1.45 trillion) designated for counter-narcotics programmes, according to US government figures.

Colombia currently faces a 10% baseline levy on exports to the United States. But Trump now promises "major tariffs," to be announced on October 21, that could significantly escalate trade barriers. The threat carries substantial economic weight as the US represents Colombia's largest export market, absorbing 26% of Colombian goods valued at approximately $16bn annually. Trade analysts warn higher tariffs could devastate Colombia's manufacturing, agriculture, and flower industries whilst further straining bilateral relations already at their lowest point in decades.

Defence Minister Pedro Sánchez rejected Trump's characterisation, stressing Colombia "has used all its capability and also lost women and men fighting drug trafficking." The Foreign Ministry condemned the remarks as undermining presidential dignity whilst constituting "a direct threat to national sovereignty by proposing an illegal intervention in Colombian territory," pledging to seek international legal recourse through multilateral bodies.

Petro vehemently challenged US assertions that the October 18 vessel strike targeted a National Liberation Army craft, insisting the boat belonged to "a humble family" and not to the armed rebel group. The Colombian leader accused Washington of murder, citing the September 16 death of fisherman Alejandro Carranza, whose disabled vessel displayed distress signals when attacked in territorial waters. "US government officials have committed murder and violated our sovereignty," Petro wrote on X, demanding prosecution before international courts.

The Trump administration has justified the attacks, largely off the Venezuelan coast, as national self-defence amid high US overdose deaths, though the surge has been driven primarily by fentanyl entering from Mexico rather than cocaine from South America. However, analysts increasingly believe the White House's real intent is to drive Venezuelan authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro from power.

Petro, who has supported Maduro against foreign intervention, went on to slam decades of US anti-drug policy as a pretext for regional control, claiming it has caused 1mn Latin American deaths. He said the ultimate aim was "taking the resources of their American siblings," in an apparent reference to Venezuelan oil.

Tensions further ramped up on October 18 when protesters assaulted the US Embassy in Bogotá with bows, arrows, and incendiary devices, injuring four police officers. The demonstrators, affiliated with the Congreso de los Pueblos movement, denounced US policies regarding Venezuela and Palestine. Petro condemned the violence and ordered "maximum caution" to protect the diplomatic mission. "The problem is with Trump, not with US," he stated, adding that he respects American people and culture.

Since assuming office in 2022, the leftist leader has championed redirecting drug war strategy from forced crop eradication towards addressing underlying social factors. The approach has coincided with a 70% surge in coca cultivation to 253,000 hectares, according to Colombian government and UN estimates. Washington decertified Colombia as a drug-war ally in September, prompting Bogotá to suspend arms purchases from its primary military partner and halt an estimated $1.5bn in USAID funding for peace process implementation.