Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump added.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened similar military action against Bogotá, asserting the country faces serious problems and governed by an unwell individual involved in producing cocaine and distributing it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
The country for decades served as a close partner of the United States in the campaign against drug trafficking and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Defiant Answer
When asked whether armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate nor am I a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become a multitude of fighters across the countryside. If they capture the president, whom a significant portion of Colombians loves and respects, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá prior to his election the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow to abstain from using arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had received additional support.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, however, leaders spanning the political spectrum have denounced the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Economic Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa following he called on US troops to disobey any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted economic restrictions on Petro, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US also carried out strikes against vessels in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
