Colombian President Petro Provokes US Tensions Amid Drug Policy Dispute

Colombian President Gustavo Petro sparked international controversy by suggesting that U.S. President Donald Trump should be "changed" or "gotten rid of" if he does not change his policies, particularly concerning U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats in Colombian waters. Petro clarified that this was not a threat but a call for Trump to abandon "death policies" like those affecting Palestine and drug enforcement, warning that if Trump does not change, the American people might remove him democratically. The tension escalated after a U.S. strike on a Colombian fishing boat, which the U.S. claimed was linked to narcoterrorists, while Petro condemned it as a violation of Colombian sovereignty. Trump retaliated by accusing Petro of encouraging drug production and threatening to shut down Colombia's "killing fields" and cut U.S. subsidies. Latino Republican lawmakers condemned Petro's remarks, interpreting them as a threat to overthrow the democratically elected Trump, and criticized Petro’s leadership and its impact on U.S.-Colombia relations. The dispute reflects broader conflicts over drug policy and sovereignty, with Petro adopting strong rhetoric against U.S. interventions and Trump responding with harsh accusations and policy threats.