U.S. President Donald Trump continued his verbal attacks on Colombian President Gustavo Petro on October 19th, 2025, accusing him of appeasing criminals and promoting narco-terrorism, stating "the Petro era is over." Meanwhile, Colombian Interior Minister Armando Benedetti indicated on October 19th, 2025, that a survivor of a recent U.S. strike in the Caribbean, reportedly carrying cocaine, will be prosecuted as a criminal upon repatriation to Colombia. Trump asserted on Truth Social that Petro "promotes the appeasement of criminals who have killed thousands of his own citizens" and sends "poison" to the United States, emphasizing that "Colombia deserves a leader that lifts the lives of its people, not the welfare of narco terrorists." He added that an election is scheduled in Colombia next year and that "The world will be watching and so will the US," signaling continued U.S. scrutiny of the Petro administration. Benedetti stated that the survivor of the U.S. strike "will be prosecuted, he will be received as a criminal, because so far what is known is that he was carrying a boat full of cocaine." He further explained that "In our country, that is a crime, and despite the fact that it was in international waters, his repatriation will be as if he were being prosecuted in the United States." This exchange escalates the diplomatic tension following Colombia's assertion that a U.S. military attack on a boat on September 16th killed a Colombian fisherman and violated its sovereignty. President Petro had previously stated the boat was Colombian, had issued a distress signal, and was likely in Colombian waters. Trump had previously cut subsidies to Colombia and accused Petro of being an "illegal drug leader."
