President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric and Allegations
Speaking to the press on Sunday, the US president suggested similar military action towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making the drug and selling it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Alliance
Colombia for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and received wide political approval from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
The President's Strong Response
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the president, which a large part of the population loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated a period in his early life as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
