Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats and Allegations
Speaking to reporters over the weekend, the US president suggested analogous military action against Colombia, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the struggle combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured dramatically following Trump was elected.
Colombia’s drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Response
Upon being questioned whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised decades ago, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
Petro spent a period in his early life participating of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to never again hold a weapon again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from across Colombian politics have condemned the possibility of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to refuse any illegal orders. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on maritime targets off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
