President Trump and Colombia's president have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing tensions bilaterally following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump added.
Escalating Tensions coupled with Allegations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to America."
While Colombia remains the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on boats off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
