The US President and Colombia's president have turned up the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions in their relations following American military units attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Tensions and Allegations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, Trump suggested similar armed intervention towards the South American nation, asserting the country faces serious problems and “run by an unwell individual involved in producing the drug and selling it to America."
While Colombia remains the leading source of the narcotic, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Alliance
The country for decades served as a close partner of the US in the fight against narcotics trade and received wide political approval in Washington, however, the relationship have deteriorated markedly after Trump was elected.
Colombia’s narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions such as one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised following a landmark accord.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked if a military operation similar to Venezuela was on the cards for Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am not an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he stated.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will become numerous insurgents in the mountains. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a significant portion of the population loves and respects, they will unleash the fierce spirit of the people," he admonished.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent some years as a young man as a member in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement although reports indicate that he never participated in combat. After demobilizing, he was involved in drafting the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Opposition
Colombia's defense chief announced that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with the US president, but voices from all sides of Colombian politics have rejected the possibility of a US attack on Colombia.
Bilateral and Financial Sanctions
Washington revoked the president's entry visa after he called on American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Later, in October, it placed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and various key allies.
Simultaneously as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces also carried out attacks on maritime targets in the eastern Pacific region off the Colombian coast.
