US President Donald Trump announced Sunday that all subsidies to Colombia would be halted and lashed out at Colombian President Gustavo Petro for failing to act against the country's drug trade, suggesting a possible US military intervention against drug cartels the the South American country.
"President Gustavo Petro, of Colombia, is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs, in big and small fields, all over Colombia. It has become the biggest business in Colombia, by far, and Petro does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America," Trump wrote on his social media platform.
"AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLOMBIA. The purpose of this drug production is the sale of massive amounts of product into the United States, causing death, destruction, and havoc," Trump continued.
Turning his fire directly on Petro, Trump said, "Petro, a low rated and very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America, better close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won't be done nicely."
Petro, widely considered one of the most anti-Israel leaders in South America, has repeatedly clashed with Trump over Colombia's drug production and US aid to the country in its fight against the cartels. Trump's remarks come amid increased US operations against drug cartels in the Caribbean region, particularly in Venezuela.
Earlier Sunday, Mexican media reported that US special forces have been operating along Mexico's northern coast, conducting raids to destroy cartel drug manufacturing facilities.
