Donald Trump along with his Colombian counterpart have intensified the rhetoric of their war of words, further raising strains in their relations after American military units struck Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from his position.
"He runs drug factories and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Growing Threats coupled with Claims
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump hinted at analogous military action against Bogotá, claiming Colombia is “very sick too” and “run by a sick man involved in producing cocaine and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the leading cocaine-producing country, authorities have found no indication linking President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is directly involved in the illicit industry.
A Frayed Partnership
Colombia for decades served as a staunch collaborator of the US in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from cross-party backing in Washington, yet ties have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's narcotics trade is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions including the Golf Clan, another leftist insurgency and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters disbanded following a 2016 peace deal.
The President's Strong Response
In response to a query if military intervention similar to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "That seems like a good idea to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who left armed struggle in the 1990s, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks without knowledge. End the false accusations," he posted in a message.
"If they [the US] bomb rural communities, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture me, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will unleash the powerful force of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Statesman
He passed some years as a young man belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he participated in drafting the nation's constitution in 1991 and eventually served as an influential politician. He was mayor of the capital city before winning the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume weapons once more," he vowed.
Heightened Measures and Cross-Political Rejection
The Colombian defence minister stated that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have expressed support with Trump, however, leaders from across Colombian politics have denounced the notion of a US attack against their nation.
Political and Economic Strains
American authorities withdrew Petro’s visa after he encouraged American soldiers to ignore orders that violate law. Months later, authorities imposed financial sanctions against the president, the first lady and several close collaborators.
Concurrently the US was building up its military presence in the region and bombing alleged narcotics traffickers to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.