The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, increasing strains in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Threats and Claims
Addressing journalists on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and led by a sick man involved in producing the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have worsened markedly after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by illegal armed groups such as the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate to have ever participated in combat. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the notion of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington withdrew the president's entry visa subsequent to he called on US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence near Venezuela and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in Pacific waters near Colombia.
