The US President along with Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, heightening tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Threats and Allegations
Talking to reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
The country has long been a key ally of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and received cross-party backing in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly since Trump was elected.
Its narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions including the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether military intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards against his country, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not a narco," he stated.
"The US president speaks without information. Cease defaming me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will become numerous insurgents in the hills. If they capture the president, whom a large part of the country admires and supports, they will release the powerful force of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
He passed a period in his early life as a member in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of Bogotá before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he said.
Increased Security and Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that the president’s protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Strains
The US revoked Petro’s visa following he urged US military personnel to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, it placed financial sanctions targeting Petro, his wife and several associates.
At the same time while America bolstered its troop levels in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
