US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday the immediate suspension of all financial aid and subsidies to Colombia, accusing President Gustavo Petro of encouraging large-scale drug production, a claim widely dismissed in Bogotá as a politically charged attempt to punish Petro for his independent foreign policy and vocal criticism of "Israel's" war on Gaza.

"President Gustavo Petro, of Columbia, is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs … It has become the biggest business in Columbia, by far, and 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. AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLUMBIA," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The announcement marks a sharp downturn in US-Colombian relations, coming just weeks after Bogotá threatened to pursue legal action against Washington over a US military strike that hit a Colombian fishing vessel in its territorial waters.

Political Retaliation 

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Colombian officials and regional observers have characterized Trump's accusations as retaliation for Petro's defiance of US policies. Petro has been among the most outspoken global leaders condemning the ongoing genocide in Gaza, breaking diplomatic ties with "Israel" in 2024, suspending arms purchases, and urging the United Nations to hold "Israel" accountable for war crimes.

During his address to the UN General Assembly last month, Petro directly called out Benjamin Netanyahu by name, urging the creation of an international coalition to stop the massacre of Palestinians. His remarks, which drew applause across the Global South, led to the revocation of his US visa after he joined a pro-Palestine rally in New York and called on American soldiers to "disobey Trump's orders."

Read more: Colombian president responds to US visa ban over 'Israel' criticism

A Broader Pattern of US Militarism

Analysts note that Trump's move against Colombia fits into a broader pattern of using anti-narcotics rhetoric to justify coercive or military action against governments unwilling to align with US policy. In recent months, Trump has expanded his so-called "war on drugs" into the Caribbean, authorizing US military strikes on fishing and cargo vessels near Venezuela under the pretext of combating narcotics trafficking.

Washington has claimed the targets were "drug boats," though Venezuela accused the US of violating its sovereignty and filed a formal complaint at the United Nations.

Independent experts argue that these operations, along with the suspension of aid to Colombia, reflect a shift from cooperative anti-drug policies toward militarized intimidation of Latin American governments that resist US hegemony.