President Trump and President Gustavo Petro have intensified the volume in their verbal conflict, increasing strains between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Talking to journalists on Sunday, Trump threatened similar use of force against Bogotá, claiming the nation is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and selling it to America."
Although Colombia is the world’s largest cocaine-producing country, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally involved in the illicit industry.
A Strained Relationship
The country has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against drug trafficking and benefited from bipartisan support from American politicians, but relations have deteriorated dramatically after Trump came to office.
Its narcotics trade is predominantly run by illegal armed groups such as one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), a large contingent of whom laid down arms after a 2016 peace deal.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump responded: "It sounds good from my perspective."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who left armed struggle decades ago, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am not illegitimate and I am not a narco," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks without information. End the false accusations," he wrote in a post.
"If they [the US] bomb peasants, they will become thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. If they capture the president, which a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Guerrilla to Statesman
Petro spent some years as a young man belonging with the radical M-19 armed organization though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he took part in writing the nation's constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming an influential politician. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I pledged not to touch a weapon again ... but in defense of my country I will take up arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Broad Opposition
Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that the president’s personal security had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with the US president, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the possibility of American military action targeting Colombia.
Political and Financial Strains
Washington revoked Petro’s visa after he urged US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. In October, it placed asset freezes against the president, his wife and a number of key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces near Venezuela and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, the US executed operations against vessels off the Pacific coast near Colombia.
