President Trump’s direct threat that Colombian President Gustavo Petro “will be next, soon” marks an unprecedented escalation against a democratically elected ally, signaling the administration’s willingness to target any leader who challenges America’s anti-drug operations. Trump Issues Direct Warning Over Drug Production President Trump delivered an unmistakable threat to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, stating, “Colombia is producing a lot of drugs, so he’d better wise up, or he’ll be next. He’ll be next soon. I hope he’s listening; he’s going to be next.” This marks the first time Trump has directly threatened regime removal against a long-standing U.S. ally over drug policy disagreements. The warning comes as part of Trump’s expanded anti-drug trafficking operations targeting both Mexico and Colombia. Trump admitted he had not “really thought too much about” removing Petro previously, but is now reconsidering due to Colombia’s role as the world’s largest cocaine producer and Petro’s leftist policies that diverge from traditional U.S.-backed drug eradication efforts. Petro Responds With War Declaration Warning Colombian President Petro fired back with his own stark warning, declaring, “To threaten our sovereignty is to declare war; do not damage two centuries of diplomatic relations.” This response demonstrates how Trump’s aggressive rhetoric risks fracturing critical security partnerships that have anchored U.S. influence in Latin America for decades. In a diplomatic counter-move, Petro formally invited Trump to visit Colombia and witness their counter-narcotics operations firsthand. This invitation appears designed to challenge Trump’s characterization of Colombia as uncooperative while demonstrating Petro’s confidence in his government’s anti-drug efforts, despite pursuing alternative policies that emphasize rural development over forced eradication. White House Reveals Personal Motivation Behind Threats White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the personal dimension driving Trump’s hostility, describing Petro’s recent statements about the U.S. as “very alarming and frankly insulting” and emphasizing that “the president doesn’t like it.” This admission confirms that Trump’s threats stem partly from wounded pride rather than purely strategic drug policy considerations. The escalation threatens to undermine decades of U.S.-Colombia security cooperation established through Plan Colombia, which invested billions in Colombian military and police capabilities. Colombia remains one of America’s most important regional partners, making Trump’s public threats particularly destabilizing for broader hemispheric security arrangements and anti-drug coordination efforts. Sources: Insulted Trump reveals personal reason for targeting Colombian President