Donald Trump and his Colombian counterpart have turned up the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units struck Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He operates drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Claims
Talking to reporters on Sunday, the US president hinted at comparable military action towards the South American nation, asserting the nation is “very sick too” and “run by a problematic figure who enjoys creating the drug and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the business.
A Strained Relationship
This nation for decades served as a key ally of the United States in the struggle against drug trafficking and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s drug trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether military intervention like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the 1990s, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"He comments without information. End the false accusations," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, whom many of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member with the radical M-19 armed organization but is not believed that he never participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in writing the constitutional rewrite in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He was mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but for the homeland I would take up weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Broad Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister announced that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Many among Colombia’s political right have expressed support with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the threats of American military action on Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Pressure
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged US troops to ignore any illegal orders. Months later, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels in the region and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
