Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening tensions in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates drug factories and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Rhetoric and Accusations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, the American leader threatened analogous military action towards the South American nation, stating Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a close partner of Washington in the campaign against drug trafficking and benefited from cross-party backing from American politicians, however, the relationship have soured significantly since Trump assumed the presidency.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by criminal organizations including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and renegade units of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms following a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query if a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and certainly not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will transform into thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president, which a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Insurgent to President
The president dedicated some years as a young man participating with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he was involved in creating the constitutional rewrite over three decades ago and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up weapons once more," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Minister Pedro Sánchez reported that the national leader's protection team was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of a US attack targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed financial sanctions against the president, his spouse and various associates.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted operations on boats in the eastern Pacific region adjacent to Colombia.
