Colombian President Petro Answers To Trump Over Threat That He 'Will Be Next'

Colombian President Gustavo Petro answered to U.S. counterpart Donald Trump following the latter's threat that he "will be next" in the country's military campaign in the Caribbean.

"Trump is a very disinformed man when it comes to Colombia. It's a shame because he dismisses the country that knows the most about cocaine trafficking. It looks like his interlocutors are completely deceiving him," Petro said in a lengthy social media publication.

"That terrible disinformation reaching the U.S. president leads him to statements and actions that can't be done about a president who has been democratically elected by the majority of the Colombian people. It's disrespectful to Colombia," he added.

The latest feud between the heads of state took place after Trump was asked whether he planned to speak with Petro as tensions in the Caribbean continue to rise. Trump dismissed the possibility, saying the Colombian leader "has been quite hostile toward the United States." He added: "I hope he's listening. He will be next," in reference to his current pressure on neighboring Venezuela.

Trump went on to assert that Petro "is going to have big problems if he doesn't realize" that Colombia is "producing a lot of drugs," claiming that cocaine is manufactured in the country "and sold directly to the United States."

Trump had earlier argued that any country "selling us their cocaine is subject to attack," adding that Colombia has "cocaine manufacturing plants." Petro rejected the statement, saying his government has destroyed "18,400 drug labs" without missile strikes and warning Trump not to "threaten our sovereignty because you'll wake up the jaguar." He added that attacking Colombia would amount to "declaring war."

The warning comes amid a marked escalation of U.S. operations against Venezuela. Since September, American forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels they say were transporting drugs in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in more than 80 deaths.