Oct. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump on Sunday announced he was cutting all federal funding to Colombia amid a deepening row between the right-wing populist American leader and socialist President Gustavo Petro.
"AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLOMBIA," Trump said on his Truth Social media platform.
Colombia has long been a key U.S. partner in South America, receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid and assistance each year. As the funding is congressionally approved, Trump has limited authority to unilaterally end it. In fiscal year 2023, the United States gave Colombia $440 million, according to the Congressional Research Service.
In the fiery statement, Trump accused Petro of being "an illegal drug leader" as he "does nothing to stop" the production of drugs in Colombia -- accusations that Petro has repeatedly rejected, saying his government seized about 1,000 tons of cocaine and closed more than 5,000 cocaine laboratories in 2024.
"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," Trump said.
