Donald Trump and President Gustavo Petro have escalated the tone in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and his time is running out," Trump remarked.
Rising Rhetoric and Allegations
Addressing the press on Sunday, the US president threatened similar use of force against Colombia, stating the country is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the US."
While Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia has long been a close partner of the US in the fight against drug trafficking and received wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions like one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members laid down arms after a historic peace agreement.
Petro's Firm Answer
In response to a query if a military operation like that in Venezuela was being considered regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
Petro, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who demobilised decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"He comments without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he expressed online.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain me, whom a large part of the population holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," he admonished.
From Fighter to President
The president dedicated part of his youth participating in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution in 1991 and later became an influential politician. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security along with Cross-Political Condemnation
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's personal security was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with the US president, but voices spanning the ideological divide have denounced the possibility of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Economic Sanctions
The US cancelled Petro’s visa following he called on American soldiers to refuse orders that violate law. In October, it placed economic restrictions on Petro, the first lady and various close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed operations on maritime targets off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
