The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the tone of their war of words, increasing strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, Trump threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating the nation is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure involved in producing cocaine and selling it to America."
While Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Strained Relationship
Colombia has long been a close partner of Washington in the fight against drug trafficking and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, but relations have deteriorated significantly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Answer
When asked if military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump responded: "I like the sound of that from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as a prominent senator. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the president’s protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Bilateral and Economic Sanctions
The US withdrew his travel authorization after he urged American soldiers to refuse unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and several associates.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on boats in the eastern Pacific region near Colombia.
