President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
The nation's drug trade is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
