Donald Trump and Colombia's president have turned up the volume of their war of words, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and production sites and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Rising Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump threatened similar use of force against Colombia, claiming the country is also "very ill" and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the globe's biggest producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval from American politicians, yet ties have deteriorated markedly since Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters demobilised subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good to me."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the last century, firmly denied these allegations. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And should they arrest the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He held the office of mayor of the Colombian capital before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have rejected the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Strains
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his spouse and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its military presence in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
