John Otis

On Sunday, Trump, without providing any evidence, responded by calling Petro a, quote, illegal drug leader.

He also threatened to cut off U.S.

aid and raise tariffs on Colombia.

Petro called Trump ill-informed about Colombia and ordered his ambassador in Washington to return home.

For NPR News, I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia.

Support for NPR comes from NPR member stations and Eric and Wendy Schmidt through the Schmidt Family Foundation, working toward a healthy, resilient, secure world for all.

On the web at theschmidt.org.

For months, Trump and Petro have exchanged insults, prompting Washington to revoke Petro's U.S.

visa.

Now, tensions are rising over Trump's policy of attacking alleged drug boats in the Caribbean Sea.

Petro accused Trump of murder after claiming that one of the victims was a Colombian fisherman.

On Sunday, Trump took to social media to call Petro, quote, an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs.

He also threatened to cut off U.S.

aid to Colombia.

Petro quickly responded by describing himself as the main enemy of Colombian traffickers and by saying that Trump was uninformed about his country.

For NPR News, I'm John Otis in Bogota, Colombia.

U.S.

officials say American airstrikes in the Caribbean have destroyed four drug-smuggling boats from Venezuela and killed 21 people.

The legality of these military attacks remains unclear, and now Colombia has been drawn into the conflict.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on social media that the U.S.