President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, heightening tensions between the two countries after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to the press over the weekend, the US president hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have deteriorated dramatically following Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
In response to a query whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
Petro spent part of his youth participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities cancelled the president's entry visa following he urged American soldiers to disobey any illegal orders. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Simultaneously the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted attacks on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
