President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump threatened comparable military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from across Colombian politics have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew his travel authorization following he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes on Petro, his wife and several key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
