The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening tensions between the two countries following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, but relations have soured significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he stated.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he said.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
Washington cancelled the president's entry visa following he called on US troops to refuse orders that violate law. Months later, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks on boats off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
