The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally after American military units targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and governed by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a close partner of Washington in the campaign combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Answer
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I would take up arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked his travel authorization following he encouraged US military personnel to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed asset freezes on Petro, his spouse and a number of associates.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and targeting vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
