President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at comparable armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have soured dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man participating of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew his travel authorization following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
