October 21, 2025

The diplomatic drama between Colombia and the United States reached a boiling point early Monday. Colombia’s foreign ministry announced that it has recalled its ambassador from Washington, Daniel Garcia-Pena, back to Bogota for urgent talks. This sharp move comes right after U.S. President Donald Trump fired a blistering attack on Colombia. Trump said he will raise tariffs on Colombian goods and stop all U.S. payments to the South American country. The spark? A bitter feud over U.S. military strikes on ships accused of carrying illegal drugs. On Sunday, Trump went further and called Colombia's President Gustavo Petro an “illegal drug leader” — a harsh insult that sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles. Colombia’s government slammed the remarks as offensive. The foreign ministry confirmed, "Daniel Garcia-Pena, Ambassador of Colombia in the United States of America, has been recalled for consultations by President Gustavo Petro and is now in Bogota." They added that decisions about what comes next will be shared soon. This tension isn’t new. Trump has long accused Bogota of helping the illegal drug business. Meanwhile, Petro openly objects to U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, which targeted vessels supposedly transporting drugs. These strikes have killed many and touched a raw nerve about sovereignty and human rights. Legal experts and activists have also criticized the U.S. actions. Trump warned that America’s financial aid to Colombia will be cut, though he did not reveal the exact sums. He promised new tariffs on Colombia’s imports to the U.S. would be announced Monday. Currently, Colombia pays a 10% tariff on most goods entering the U.S., matching Trump’s standard rate for many countries. Back in the day, Colombia was a top recipient of U.S. aid in the Western Hemisphere. But this year, the flow slowed drastically with the closing of USAID, the U.S. government’s humanitarian aid agency. Now, the future of Colombia-US relations hangs in the balance, as fiery words and tough actions fly between these historic partners.

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Tags: Colombia, United states, Donald trump, Tariffs, Gustavo petro, Diplomatic row,