President Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Accusations
Addressing journalists over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest producer of cocaine, there is no evidence linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of Washington in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom disbanded subsequent to a historic peace agreement.
The President's Firm Answer
When asked whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump replied: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the 1990s, rejected the accusations. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture me, whom a large part of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Fighter to Leader
He passed part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed that he never took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in drafting a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He served as mayor of Bogotá prior to his election president.
"I pledged to abstain from using a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
American authorities cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on US military personnel to disobey unlawful commands. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various close collaborators.
At the same time while America bolstered its forces in the region and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted strikes on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
