President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened comparable military action against Colombia, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making narcotics and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the business.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security along with Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked the president's entry visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Concurrently as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
