The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, but relations have soured significantly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its troop levels in the region and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
