The US President and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone of their war of words, increasing strains between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Escalating Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the US president hinted at comparable use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened significantly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by criminal organizations such as the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
The president dedicated a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted asset freezes against the president, his wife and several key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
