The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader hinted at comparable use of force against Colombia, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have soured markedly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
