President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric and Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked the president's entry visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
