Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the business.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted online.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various associates.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
