Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention against Colombia, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
This nation for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have worsened dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised following a landmark accord.
The President's Firm Answer
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the capital city before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have condemned the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, the US enacted asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
