The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, increasing tensions bilaterally following US forces struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming the nation faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a close partner of Washington in the struggle against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, which a significant portion of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for Colombia I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, but voices from across the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
