Trump's feud with Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro

In January 2025 Colombia turned back two US military flights carrying deported migrants, and Trump announced tariffs on the country in response.^[1] Colombia quickly backed down and agreed to accept the flights,^[8] though the US Embassy canceled visa appointments in the dispute.^[9] In September Petro called for criminal proceedings over Trump's strikes on boats said to be carrying drugs,^[2] and after he urged American soldiers to defy Trump's orders, the State Department revoked his visa.^[10] The boat strikes are followed in their own arc.

In October Trump said he would cut US funding to Colombia because Petro "does nothing to stop" drug production,^[11] and threatened higher tariffs; Colombia recalled its ambassador,^[4] and Petro accused Trump of murdering a Colombian fisherman in a strike.^[12] The Treasury Department sanctioned Petro, his family and a member of his government,^[13][3] and in November Petro ordered security forces to stop sharing intelligence with the US until the strikes ended.^[14] In January 2026 Trump threatened military action against Colombia's government,^[5] then said days later that they had had a friendly call,^[15][6] and he hosted Petro at the White House in February.^[7] In March, a source said, Petro's name had come up in two federal narcotics investigations in New York.^[16]