The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, increasing tensions between the two countries following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions coupled with Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the struggle against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
When asked if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which many of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
The US withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out attacks against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
