President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, heightening strains between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar use of force against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
Colombia was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign against narcotics trade and received bipartisan support in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Widespread Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
Washington withdrew his travel authorization following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast adjacent to Colombia.
