The US President and Colombia's president have intensified the rhetoric in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations following US forces attacked Venezuela in an operation to oust President Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Escalating Rhetoric coupled with Claims
Talking to the press over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, asserting the country is “very sick too” and “run by an unwell individual who enjoys creating narcotics and selling it to the US."
Although Colombia stands as the leading source of the narcotic, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally tied to the trade.
A Strained Partnership
This nation has long been a close partner of the US in the struggle against narcotics trade and benefited from wide political approval in Washington, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
Its illicit drug economy is mainly overseen by guerrilla factions like the Clan del Golfo, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, the majority of whose members demobilised subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
When asked whether a military operation comparable to Venezuela was a possibility regarding Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
The Colombian leader, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied Trump's claims. "I am no illegitimate nor am I a drug trafficker," he declared.
"The US president speaks uninformed. Cease defaming me," he wrote in a post.
"If US bombs target civilians, they will transform into numerous insurgents in the hills. And if they detain the president, which a significant portion of Colombians admires and supports, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to Leader
Petro spent a period in his early life belonging in the left-wing M-19 guerrilla group although reports indicate he did not took part in armed clashes. After demobilizing, he took part in drafting a new constitution in 1991 and eventually served as a respected lawmaker. He held the office of mayor of Bogotá before winning president.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a gun ... but in defense of my country I will take up weapons once more," he said.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
Colombia's defense chief reported that Petro's security detail had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have allied themselves with Trump's stance, yet figures from across the political spectrum have denounced the notion of an invasion against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Strains
The US cancelled his travel authorization following he urged US military personnel to refuse orders that violate law. Later, in October, authorities imposed economic restrictions targeting Petro, his wife and a number of associates.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its military presence near Venezuela and bombing suspected drug boats against Venezuela’s Maduro, US forces have also conducted strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
