Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Accusations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia was historically a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
