President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, further raising strains between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the US president hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
Washington revoked his travel authorization following he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
