Colombia recalls envoy to US amid Trump’s escalating accusations
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Colombia recalls its ambassador to the US amid Trump’s accusations and rising regional tensions over US military operations near Venezuela.
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro (C) celebrates his election win next to his wife Veronica Alcocer and his running mate Francia Marquez at the Movistar Arena in Bogota, on June 19, 2022 (AFP)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has recalled the country’s ambassador to the United States, Daniel Garcia-Pena, amid escalating tensions following recent US military activity in the Caribbean.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that Garcia-Pena had been recalled for consultations at Petro’s request and had already returned to Bogota.
“Foreign Minister Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy informs the public that Daniel Garcia-Pena, Colombia's Ambassador to the United States of America, has been recalled for consultations by President Gustavo Petro Urrego, and is already in Bogota,” the ministry said in a press release.
The ministry added that the government would issue a statement later on Monday outlining decisions taken in relation to the matter.
Mounting regional tension
The move comes as tensions rise across the Caribbean following the deployment of several US naval and military assets near Venezuelan coasts under the pretext of countering drug trafficking allegedly originating from Venezuela.
Caracas has firmly rejected Washington’s claims, while Petro has repeatedly condemned the use of US military strikes under the guise of anti-narcotics operations, warning that such actions risk destabilizing the region.
On Saturday, Petro announced that Colombia would pursue legal action after US forces allegedly struck a Colombian fisherman’s vessel last month in what he described as Colombian territorial waters.
Trump escalates rhetoric against Colombia
The diplomatic fallout deepened after US President Donald Trump announced the suspension of all US payments and subsidies to Colombia, accusing Petro of being an “illegal drug dealer” who encourages mass drug production.
Petro swiftly rejected the accusation, stating that “Trump has been deceived by his associates” and reiterating his commitment to combating drug trafficking.
Tensions have been further inflamed by Washington’s recent statements indicating potential military operations in Venezuela. On August 19, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said Trump was prepared to use “every element of American power” to combat drug trafficking, including possible intervention in Venezuelan territory. Reports suggest over 4,000 US Marines and sailors have been deployed to waters off Latin America and the Caribbean as part of the initiative.
Colombia slams Trump’s incendiary drug claims
Colombian officials sharply rebuked US President Donald Trump on Sunday after he labeled President Gustavo Petro “an illegal drug leader” in a Truth Social post and announced the suspension of all US aid to Colombia, a move that threatens to inflame tensions between the two governments.
In a statement obtained by Newsweek, the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “As the Government of Colombia, we strongly reject these pronouncements and will go to all international bodies in defense of our sovereignty as a State and the dignity of our president, who has always been characterized by his respect for democratic authorities and his frontal fight against drug trafficking.”
The Ministry also condemned the use of cooperation as leverage, adding, “Likewise, we reject the use of international cooperation as an instrument of interference in Colombia's internal affairs. Without cooperation, transnational organizations dedicated to the production and marketing of narcotics will win and the entire region will lose.”
Growing diplomatic rift
The exchange follows several days of escalating rhetoric between the two leaders as the United States expanded its military operations targeting vessels allegedly tied to "drug smuggling" or "terrorism". Colombia has objected to how Washington has framed those strikes, warning of violations of sovereignty.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on X that the latest operation destroyed a vessel associated with the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), a group the US designated as a "terrorist organization" in 1997. Hegseth described the ELN as “the Al Qaeda of the Western Hemisphere” and said the strike took place in international waters.
According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the ELN remains “the oldest and one of the most powerful groups in Colombia,” seeking to dominate areas linked to narcotics production and often clashing with Colombian forces.
