President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened similar military action towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to Statesman
The president dedicated some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief announced that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
