The US President and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar military action against Colombia, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure who likes making the drug and distributing it to the United States."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured markedly following Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader nor am I involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest me, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the powerful force of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed he did not engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he participated in creating the nation's constitution in the early 90s and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities revoked his travel authorization after he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed attacks on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
