President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have turned up the volume of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally after American military units attacked Venezuela to remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Threats and Claims
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous military action towards the South American nation, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and led by a sick man who likes making cocaine and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the trade.
A Deteriorating Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have deteriorated significantly following Trump came to office.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
The President's Defiant Response
Upon being questioned whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who demobilised in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"He comments without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the people," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging of the leftist M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in drafting the constitutional rewrite in the early 90s subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I swore not to touch arms again ... but in defense of my country I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief stated that the national leader's personal security had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Diplomatic and Financial Pressure
The US cancelled Petro’s visa after he encouraged US troops to disobey any illegal orders. In October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and a number of key allies.
Concurrently while America bolstered its forces in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces executed operations against vessels in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
