Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries after US forces struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump suggested similar military action against Bogotá, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.
A Frayed Partnership
The country for decades served as a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed decades ago, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement 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 eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up weapons once more," he said.
Heightened Measures along with Cross-Political Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. In October, it placed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence in the Caribbean and bombing suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
