President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He operates cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader suggested analogous military action against Bogotá, asserting Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. If they capture the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will release the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I swore to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Broad Rejection
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, but voices spanning the political spectrum have condemned the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and several associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
