The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs narcotics facilities and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation is also "very ill" and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically since Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as 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 landmark accord.
Colombia's Firm Response
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. And should they arrest the president, which many of the population loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up the fight," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Broad Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Pressure
Washington withdrew Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US troops to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
