Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the American leader suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's personal security had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
