President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the volume of their exchange, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Talking to journalists over the weekend, Trump suggested comparable use of force against Bogotá, stating the nation faces serious problems and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia remains the world’s largest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the United States in the campaign against narcotics trade and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump was elected.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Response
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And should they arrest me, which many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in writing a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to never again hold arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Petro's security detail was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have condemned the threats of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US revoked his travel authorization following he urged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
