The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the rhetoric of their exchange, increasing strains bilaterally after American military units struck Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and that won't last much longer," the US president stated.
Growing Rhetoric and Claims
Talking to journalists over the weekend, the US president hinted at similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating Colombia faces serious problems and governed by a sick man who enjoys creating the drug and distributing it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
The country was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and enjoyed bipartisan support from American politicians, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump came to office.
Colombia’s drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including the Golf Clan, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Answer
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who left armed struggle in the 1990s, categorically refuted Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate nor am I involved in narcotics," he declared.
"He comments without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a message.
"If US bombs target rural communities, they will turn into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the president, whom a significant portion of the country admires and supports, they will provoke the fierce spirit of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Statesman
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member of the leftist M-19 guerrilla group but is not believed to have ever participated in combat. Following his disarmament, he participated in drafting the constitutional rewrite in 1991 subsequently becoming a prominent senator. He was mayor of the capital city prior to his election president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
The Colombian defence minister announced that Petro's protection team had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have sided with Trump, yet figures from across Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
Washington withdrew his travel authorization subsequent to he urged US troops to disobey orders that violate law. In October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, the first lady and several key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its military presence in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
