Xinhua News Agency, Bogota, October 19th Ship strikes, aid shutdowns, tax increases, and the United States looks at Colombia?

Newspaper reporter Liu Xiaobo.

Relations between the United States and Colombia have suddenly become tense in recent days. On the 17th, the U.S. military launched a deadly attack on a Colombian ship on the grounds of "combating drug trafficking"; US President Trump called Colombian President Petro a "drug leader", announced the cessation of aid to Colombia and threatened to impose tariffs. After Venezuela, the United States is eyeing Colombia?

Attacking the ships.

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegerseth said on 19 December that, according to Trump's order, the U.S. military launched a deadly strike on 17 in international waters on a ship affiliated with the opposition armed "Colombia National Liberation Organization", all three male "drug traffickers terrorists" on board were killed, and no American soldiers were injured.

Hagerseth said on social media that US intelligence found that "the ship was engaged in illegal drug smuggling activities and was sailing along known drug trafficking routes, carrying a large amount of drugs."

Petro posted a message on social media on the 19th denying the US statement. He said that the attacked ship belonged to an "ordinary family" who loved the sea, not anti-government armed forces, who relied on the sea for their livelihood. On the 18th, he also condemned the US for killing a Colombian fisherman in Colombian territorial waters on September 16th. Petro said that the murdered fishermen had nothing to do with any drug trafficking network. At the time of the incident, the fishing boat had an engine failure and drifted at sea, and a clear distress signal had been sent out.

Petro asked the Colombian Attorney General's Office to take immediate action on the above incident, provide support to the families of the victims, and unite victims from other countries to sue the United States.

Call out aid

Trump posted on social media on May 19, accusing Petro of being a ¡°drug leader¡±, ¡°failing to do anything¡± in combating drug production, and announcing that from now on, the United States will stop ¡°mass payments and subsidies¡± to Colombia.

Petro shouted to Trump on social media on the 19th, saying that Colombia had never been rude toward the United States. Petro suggested that Trump "talk" before knowing the truth, because the main enemy of the Colombia drug group "is me, Petro."

Colombia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on the 19th, strongly protesting Trump's personal attack on Petro and announcing the cessation of aid to Colombia. The statement condemned that the U.S. statement is a direct threat to Colombia's sovereignty and violates all international laws and diplomatic norms. Colombia firmly opposes the United States 'use of international cooperation as a tool to interfere in other countries' internal affairs.

Colombia was once a traditional ally of the United States in Latin America and one of the countries in the region that received the most American aid. According to data from the foreign aid board website under the U.S. State Department, the United States will provide approximately US $700 million in aid to Colombia in fiscal year 2023 to support approximately 550 activities in Colombia. According to US media reports citing State Department data, the United States has provided more than $210 million in aid to Colombia this fiscal year.

Since Petro took office as president in August 2022, the relations between the United States and the United States have continued.Since Trump regained power in January this year, the relations between the two countries have continued to be more tense, and friction has continued on immigration, tariffs, anti-drug issues.

Threatened tax hikes

Trump also threatened to impose additional tariffs on Colombia on the 19th and will announce the details on the 20th.

This move caused concern in the Colombian business community. Bruce Marc Master, president of the National Association of Colombian Industries, said that Colombia's relations with other countries, especially with the United States, must be handled seriously and strictly through diplomatic channels. Maria Claudia Lacoture, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Colombia, said that the impact of tariffs imposed by the United States on Colombia and Canada should not be underestimated. "It may affect the economy, employment and social projects" and affect "millions of families".

In January, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Costa Rica over the issue of repatriation. At that time, the country refused to enter two U.S. military aircraft carrying repatriated migrants, demanding a ¡°Dignity Treatment Agreement.¡± Trump then accused Costa Rica of endangering U.S. security, threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Costa Rica and imposed a travel ban on relevant officials. After diplomatic consultations, Colombia agreed to receive repatriated migrants, and the United States announced a suspension of tariffs.