US President Donald Trump known as Colombian President Gustavo Petro an “unlawful drug chief” on Sunday (Oct 19) and stated the US 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 the US, inflicting demise, destruction, and havoc,” he stated in a Reality Social put up.
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, the US revoked Petro’s visa after he joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York and urged US troopers to disobey Trump’s orders.
Final yr, 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 reminiscent of Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia and Venezuela amongst these the US believes to have “failed demonstrably” in upholding counternarcotics agreements throughout the previous yr.
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 medication,” stated Trump, saying US funds and subsidies to Colombia had 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.
