In a major diplomatic escalation, Colombia announced on Monday that it has recalled its ambassador from Washington following US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs and his inflammatory remarks calling Colombian President Gustavo Petro a “drug leader.” The move marks a serious deterioration in US–Colombia relations, already strained after recent US military strikes in the Caribbean Sea that drew condemnation from Bogotá.
Colombia Recalls Ambassador Amid Growing Diplomatic Rift
The Colombian Foreign Ministry confirmed in an official statement that Ambassador Daniel García-Peña has been recalled for consultations and has already returned to Bogotá. The ministry added that further decisions would be announced soon, signaling that Colombia may consider additional diplomatic measures.
“Daniel Garcia-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 stated. “In the coming hours, the national government will inform of the decisions taken.”
The recall comes after Trump’s announcement on Sunday, where he threatened to raise tariffs on Colombian goods and cut all US payments to the country. In his statement on Truth Social, Trump accused Petro’s leftist administration of being involved in drug trafficking, a claim that Colombia strongly rejected.
Petro Responds: “Trump Is Rude and Ignorant to Colombia”
The Colombian government condemned Trump’s remarks as “offensive and baseless.” President Petro responded sharply on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Mr. Trump, Colombia has never been rude to the United States … but you are rude and ignorant to Colombia. Since I am not a businessman, I am even less a drug trafficker. There is no greed in my heart.”
Petro’s response underscores growing frustration in Bogotá over what it sees as Washington’s heavy-handed foreign policy. The Colombian leader has also criticized recent US bombings in the Caribbean, claiming they targeted civilian boats, not drug traffickers. Human rights organizations and legal experts have also questioned the legality of the strikes, which killed several people.
Trade and Economic Fallout Looms
The US remains Colombia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 35% of the country’s exports, including oil, coal, coffee, flowers, and bananas, according to the Colombian-American Chamber of Commerce. About 70% of Colombia’s imports come from the US, mostly goods not produced domestically.
However, relations have cooled since Trump’s return to the White House. US aid to Colombia has fallen sharply, especially after USAID ended its operations earlier this year. Trump stated that details of the new tariffs would be announced later on Monday but gave no specifics about which US funding would be halted. Currently, Colombian exports face a 10% tariff, a standard rate Trump has imposed on several trading partners.
According to DANE, Colombia’s statistics agency, the nation recorded a $338 million trade deficit with the US between January and July 2025. Meanwhile, US investors contributed $2.27 billion in the first half of 2025, representing 34% of total foreign investment.
Colombia Seeks International Support
In response to the escalating situation, Colombia’s Foreign Ministry announced plans to seek international diplomatic support for President Petro and to defend the nation’s sovereignty and autonomy.
Petro, a former senator and anti-corruption reformer, has vowed to reduce coca cultivation through a combination of social programs and rural development, though progress has been slow. He also denounced the US bombing that killed three civilians, stating that the targeted boat belonged to a “humble family,” not the National Liberation Army (ELN) as claimed by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
As tensions deepen, analysts warn that Trump’s tariff threats and aggressive rhetoric could destabilize one of the United States’ historically strongest alliances in Latin America, potentially driving Colombia to seek closer ties with other global powers such as China or the European Union.
