The US President along with his Colombian counterpart have escalated the volume of their exchange, further raising strains bilaterally after US forces attacked Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, Trump suggested similar armed intervention against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by a problematic figure who enjoys creating narcotics and distributing it to the United States."
Although Colombia stands as the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing from American politicians, yet ties have worsened dramatically after Trump assumed the presidency.
Colombia’s illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the former Farc guerrillas, a large contingent of whom disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Answer
Upon being questioned if a military operation similar to Venezuela was a possibility against his country, Trump said: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. If they capture the president, which a large part of the country loves and respects, they will release the powerful force of the nation," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
He passed part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Upon leaving the group, he participated in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected president.
"I pledged to never again hold a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the national leader's protection team had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of Colombian politics have denounced the possibility of a US attack against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to disobey orders that violate law. In October, it placed asset freezes targeting Petro, his wife and several close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its troop levels near Venezuela and bombing vessels thought to carry drugs against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets have also conducted operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
