Colombia has recalled its ambassador from Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose new tariffs on the South American country and halt all payments to its government, deepening a diplomatic rift over American military strikes in the Caribbean.
The decision, confirmed on Monday by Colombia’s Foreign Ministry, came a day after Trump referred to Colombian President Gustavo Petro as an “illegal drug leader,” remarks Bogotá condemned as offensive and unfounded.
‘’Daniel García-Peña, Ambassador of Colombia in the United States of America, has been recalled for consultations by President Gustavo Petro and is now in Bogotá,’’ the ministry said. ‘’In the coming hours, the national government will inform of the decisions taken.’’
The recall marks the sharpest deterioration in U.S.-Colombia relations in years, showing growing tension over Washington’s renewed military strikes on vessels accused of trafficking narcotics. Petro’s government has objected to the operations, which have reportedly killed civilians and sparked outrage among human rights groups.
Trump, speaking on Sunday, accused Colombia of being complicit in the drug trade and vowed to announce fresh tariffs “to protect American interests.” He also claimed U.S. financial aid to Bogotá would be “cut off immediately,” though he did not specify which programmes were affected.
Read Also: US Revokes Colombian President’s Visa Over Protest Remarks
Colombia, once a top recipient of U.S. foreign aid under the now-shuttered USAID, currently faces a shifting trade landscape. The U.S. is its largest trading partner, accounting for 35% of exports and 70% of imports, according to the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce.
The Colombian peso weakened by 1.4% to 3,889 per U.S. dollar in early trading Monday following Trump’s comments.
President Petro issued a strong response on X, saying Trump’s comments insulted the Colombian people. ”Mr. Trump, Colombia has never been rude to the United States … but you are rude and ignorant to Colombia,” Petro wrote. “Since I am not a businessman, I am even less a drug trafficker. There is no greed in my heart.”
The remarks came after Petro condemned a recent U.S. bombing of a vessel in the Caribbean that killed three civilians. Washington claimed the boat was linked to the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel group, but Petro said it belonged to a “humble family.”
Colombia, a major exporter of oil, coal, coffee, flowers, and bananas, ran a $338 million trade deficit with the U.S. between January and July, according to national statistics agency DANE. American investors accounted for 34% of Colombia’s total foreign investment in the first half of the year, central bank data show.
Petro’s government said it will seek international backing “to defend Colombia’s autonomy” and push back against what it views as Washington’s overreach.
