Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Rising Threats coupled with Claims
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump threatened similar armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a landmark accord.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
