• Trump suggests military action against Colombia over cocaine trafficking.
• President Petro warns this would threaten Colombia’s sovereignty.
• Petro invites Trump to witness the destruction of cocaine labs in Colombia.
• The U.S. has increased military presence in the region amid rising tensions.
• Colombia is the largest supplier of cocaine to the U.S., with significant production increases noted.

During a recent Cabinet meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action against any country, including Colombia, that traffics drugs into the United States. He stated, "Anybody that’s doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack," in a move that escalates ongoing tensions regarding drug production and trafficking in Latin America, particularly with Colombia being the largest source of cocaine for the U.S. market. These comments come amidst U.S. military operations in the Caribbean targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels, which have reportedly resulted in numerous casualties, according to latinamericareports, Al Jazeera, and India Times.

In response, Colombian President Gustavo Petro firmly countered Trump's threat, emphasizing the importance of respecting Colombia’s sovereignty. He asserted that Colombia has successfully destroyed over 18,000 cocaine laboratories "without missiles" during his administration and invited Trump to witness these efforts firsthand. "Come to Colombia, Mr. Trump," he stated, while warning that such military threats could be seen as “a declaration of war” against his country, according to latinamericareports and Al Jazeera.

The ongoing tensions are further fueled by accusations from the U.S. government, which has increased its military presence in the Caribbean region, primarily targeting drug trafficking purportedly supported by the Venezuelan regime. Petro criticized Trump’s comments, insisting that Colombia plays a significant role in preventing cocaine from reaching U.S. consumers and warning against damaging decades of diplomatic relations between the two nations. He reiterated, “If there is a country that has helped stop thousands of tons of cocaine, it is Colombia,” highlighting the complexities of the situation, as reported by India Times.