The US President along with President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume of their exchange, further raising strains in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at similar military action towards the South American nation, claiming the country is “very sick too” and governed by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way tied to the business.
A Deteriorating Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign against drug trafficking and received bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom disbanded after a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Answer
Upon being questioned whether military intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied these allegations. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting a new constitution in the early 90s subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of the capital city prior to his election the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Increased Security and Widespread Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump, but voices from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Political and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US military personnel to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels in the region and striking vessels thought to carry drugs to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters adjacent to Colombia.
