The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader threatened comparable armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
