President Trump and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, heightening strains in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats and Claims
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who enjoys creating narcotics and trafficking it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country was historically a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have soured dramatically since Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
When asked if a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters in the mountains. If they capture the president, which many of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 armed organization although reports indicate to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's personal security was strengthened.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the ideological divide have condemned the notion of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
