President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions bilaterally following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Tensions and Claims
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the American leader suggested comparable military action against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and “run by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have deteriorated significantly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Response
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
President Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the population admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
He passed a period in his early life belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures spanning Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
American authorities revoked Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, authorities imposed economic restrictions against the president, his wife and various associates.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
