Washington, D.C. – December 11, 2025 – President Donald Trump openly threatened Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday, warning that the leftist leader would be “next” in line for U.S. action if he does not “wise up” on drug trafficking. The remarks, delivered during a White House economic roundtable, came just hours after Trump confirmed that U.S. forces had seized a massive Venezuelan oil tanker, further inflaming tensions across Latin America.
When asked whether he planned to speak with Petro, Trump replied that the Colombian president had been “fairly hostile to the United States” and warned: “Colombia is producing a lot of drugs. They have cocaine factories that they make cocaine, and they sell it right into the United States. So he better wise up, or he’ll be next. He’ll be next soon. I hope he’s listening. He’s going to be next.”
The statement is the most direct threat yet against Petro, whom Trump has repeatedly labeled an “illegal drug dealer” and accused of allowing cocaine production to flourish. Trump’s comments place Colombia squarely in the crosshairs of the same aggressive campaign he has waged against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for months.
Petro responded swiftly on Thursday morning, calling Trump “very misinformed” and rejecting the accusations as baseless. He emphasized that Colombia has paid an enormous price in lives and environmental damage over decades of the U.S.-backed war on drugs, and insisted that Washington’s real interest lies in controlling Venezuela’s vast oil reserves rather than combating narcotics. “Oil is at the heart of the matter,” Petro said, adding that Trump “is not thinking about the democratization of Venezuela, let alone narco-trafficking.”
The same day, Trump confirmed that U.S. authorities had seized a Venezuelan oil tanker carrying 1.8 million barrels of heavy crude. Describing it as “the largest one ever seized,” he said the operation was conducted “for a very good reason.” Venezuelan officials denounced the move as “international piracy” and “blatant theft,” with Foreign Minister Yván Gil declaring that the oil “belongs exclusively to the Venezuelan people.” Maduro called on citizens to prepare as “warriors” against what he termed the “North American empire.”
The seizure is the latest escalation in a four-month U.S. military campaign across the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific that the administration frames as a war on “narco-terrorism.” Since early September, American forces—including thousands of Marines, warships, fighter jets, bombers, submarines, and drones—have carried out at least 22 strikes on vessels allegedly linked to drug cartels and Venezuelan state entities. Those attacks have killed 87 people and captured two others. The Pentagon has designated several Latin American groups, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua and elements of Colombia’s National Liberation Army, as foreign terrorist organizations, giving the military broad authority to use lethal force.
Critics, including UN human-rights experts and lawmakers from both U.S. parties, have questioned the legality and proportionality of the operations. Many of the victims were low-level crew members rather than high-ranking traffickers, and no large drug seizures have been publicly documented from the targeted ships.
Colombia has emerged as a particular point of friction. Despite being the world’s top cocaine producer and a longtime U.S. ally in counter-narcotics efforts, Bogotá has seen relations deteriorate rapidly under Petro’s administration. The Colombian leader has condemned the U.S. maritime strikes, offered to host talks between Maduro and the Venezuelan opposition, and refused certain U.S. deportation flights—prompting retaliatory tariffs and aid cuts from Washington.
Trump’s threats have sparked alarm across the region. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva denounced what he called U.S. “imperialism,” while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged dialogue. In Colombia, protests erupted under the hashtag #NoAlSiguiente (“Not the Next One”), with citizens and politicians alike warning that Trump’s rhetoric risks dragging the country into open conflict.
Oil markets reacted immediately to the tanker seizure, with crude prices rising 1.2 percent as traders feared further disruptions to Venezuelan supply. Analysts note that Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves—over 300 billion barrels—and any prolonged confrontation could have global repercussions.
For now, the Andes and the Caribbean remain on edge. Petro has vowed to defend Colombian sovereignty “like a jaguar,” while Maduro has called for regional unity against what he describes as a new era of U.S. aggression. Whether Trump’s threats remain rhetorical or translate into concrete action—potentially including sanctions, asset seizures, or even military measures—will depend on how both Bogotá and Caracas respond in the coming days.
