US President Donald Trump referred to as Colombian President Gustavo Petro an “unlawful drug chief” on Sunday (Oct 19) and mentioned america would stop “large-scale funds and subsidies” to the South American nation.
“The aim of this drug manufacturing is the sale of huge quantities of product into america, inflicting dying, destruction, and havoc,” he mentioned in a Fact Social submit.
The Colombian embassy in Washington, DC, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Relations between Bogota and Washington have frayed since Trump returned to workplace.
Final month, america revoked Petro’s visa after he joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York and urged US troopers to disobey Trump’s orders.
Final 12 months, Petro pledged to tame coca-growing areas in Colombia with huge social and navy intervention, however the technique has introduced little success.
In September, Trump designated nations akin to Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia and Venezuela amongst these america believes to have “failed demonstrably” in upholding counternarcotics agreements through the previous 12 months.
He blamed Colombia’s political management for the failure to fulfill its drug management obligations.
“Petro … is an unlawful drug chief strongly encouraging the large manufacturing of medicine,” mentioned Trump, saying US funds and subsidies to Colombia have been a rip-off.
“AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE,” he wrote in capital letters. It was not clear what Trump was referring to.
