Donald Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated significantly since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
