Donald Trump and Colombia's president have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising strains between the two countries after US forces attacked Venezuela with the aim of deposing President Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He has drug factories and cocaine factories and his time is running out," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions coupled with Accusations
Talking to the press on Sunday, the US president hinted at similar use of force against Colombia, asserting the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to America."
While Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the trade.
A Frayed Relationship
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and enjoyed bipartisan support in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened markedly since Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is mainly overseen by criminal organizations like the Clan del Golfo, another leftist insurgency and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded after a landmark accord.
Petro's Defiant Response
In response to a query whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "That seems like a good idea from my perspective."
Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who disarmed in the last century, rejected these allegations. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he declared.
"Trump speaks without knowledge. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. And if they detain me, which many of the population admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," he admonished.
From Insurgent to Leader
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 armed organization although reports indicate he did not participated in combat. Upon leaving the group, he took part in creating the nation's constitution over three decades ago and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the capital city before being elected president.
"I made a vow not to touch a gun ... but in defense of my country I would take up the fight," he vowed.
Reinforced Protection along with Cross-Political Rejection
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 the US president, but voices from all sides of the ideological divide have rejected the possibility of American military action on Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington cancelled his travel authorization subsequent to he encouraged US troops to disobey unlawful commands. Later, in October, authorities imposed financial sanctions on Petro, his spouse and a number of close collaborators.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on maritime targets in Pacific waters near Colombia.
