US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that any nation sending illegal drugs into the United States could face military strikes, prompting a sharp response from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who accused Washington of threatening his country’s sovereignty.Speaking to reporters during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump referred to cocaine shipments from Colombia and said, “Anybody that’s doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack.” The comments came as the administration continues missile strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, operations that have killed dozens in recent months.Petro responded on X with an invitation layered with a warning. He said Colombia destroys a drug-production laboratory every 40 minutes “without missiles” and urged Trump to witness the operations firsthand. “Come to Colombia, Mr. Trump, I invite you, so that you can participate in the destruction of the 9 laboratories we do daily to prevent cocaine from reaching the US,” he wrote.Petro added: “Without missiles, I have destroyed 18,400 laboratories during my government; come with me and I’ll show you how they are destroyed, one laboratory every 40 minutes, but do not threaten our sovereignty, because you will awaken the Jaguar. Attacking our sovereignty is declaring war; do not damage two centuries of diplomatic relations.”He further said, “You have already slandered me; do not continue down that path. If there is a country that has helped stop thousands of tons of cocaine so that North Americans do not consume it, it is Colombia.”The exchange comes amid rising tensions in the region. The US military has increased its presence in the Caribbean as the Trump administration accuses Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro – whose country borders Colombia – of enabling drug flows into the United States. Maduro has denied the allegations. Trump has also recently suggested that US intervention in Venezuela remains possible.On Tuesday, Trump broadened his warning, saying countries other than Venezuela could also face US action. “I hear the country of Colombia is making cocaine, they have cocaine manufacturing plants, and then they sell us their cocaine,” he said.Petro, who has been sanctioned by the Trump administration, reiterated his caution in a second message: “Do not threaten our sovereignty, or you will awake the Jaguar… Attacking our sovereignty is declaring war.”
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