Trump cancels Colombia subsidies, cites drug trafficking

President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed illicit drug production had become the biggest business in the South American country, despite calls for the government to crack down on operations. He said the country’s leader, President Gustavo Petro, had not slowed or stopped drug trafficking. Trump said he would end all payments and subsidies from the United States to Colombia, but did not specify which programs would be cut. This fiscal year, the United States has granted nearly $210 million to Colombia for agriculture, security, social infrastructure, and other programs. Trump on Sunday also said he would impose tariffs on Colombia.

What happened before this? Tensions between the U.S. and Colombia have ramped up in recent weeks as the Trump administration’s airstrikes destroyed several boats allegedly carrying drugs in the Caribbean. Petro in September called for criminal proceedings to be opened against Trump after strikes killed 17 people aboard three separate boats. Earlier this month, Petro asked Qatar to mediate between the United States and countries that border the Caribbean to stop the repeated strikes.

Dig deeper: Read my report about Trump approving CIA actions inside Venezuela aimed at stemming drug trafficking and illegal immigration.