Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the business.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
