Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing tensions bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Rising Tensions coupled with Allegations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump suggested comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, rejected these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments uninformed. End the false accusations," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, whom many of Colombians loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked the president's entry visa subsequent to he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the region and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
