The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the volume of their war of words, increasing tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and production sites and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing narcotics and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia was historically a key ally of the United States in the fight combating drug cartels and received bipartisan support in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. If they capture me, whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the powerful force of the people," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected president.
"I swore to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Rejection
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's personal security had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa subsequent to he encouraged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, the US enacted economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
