The US President and his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces struck Venezuela in an operation to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, the American leader threatened analogous armed intervention against Colombia, asserting the nation is also "very ill" and led by an unwell individual who enjoys creating cocaine and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly connected to the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have worsened dramatically following Trump came to office.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups including the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to abstain from using arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s right wing opposition have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the threats of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Sanctions
American authorities cancelled his travel authorization after he urged US troops to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
