The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous use of force towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
This nation has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a significant portion of the country loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I swore to abstain from using a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief stated that the president’s security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from across the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
The US cancelled the president's entry visa following he encouraged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. In October, the US enacted financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its troop levels in the Caribbean and striking suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
