President Trump along with President Gustavo Petro have escalated the rhetoric of their exchange, heightening strains bilaterally following US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He has drug factories and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump remarked.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Addressing the press on Sunday, Trump suggested analogous use of force towards the South American nation, claiming Colombia is also "very ill" and governed by a problematic figure involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
Although Colombia is the leading source of the narcotic, no proof exists implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the trade.
A Deteriorating Alliance
Colombia has long been a staunch collaborator of Washington in the fight combating drug cartels and benefited from wide political approval in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump came to office.
Its drug trade is mainly overseen by illegal armed groups like one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and dissident factions of the demobilized Farc, a large contingent of whom demobilised after a landmark accord.
Petro's Firm Answer
Upon being questioned if armed intervention like that in Venezuela was a possibility for Colombia, Trump said: "I like the sound of that to me."
President Petro, a former leftist guerrilla who demobilised in the last century, rejected Trump's claims. "I am neither an illegitimate leader and certainly not a drug trafficker," he stated.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he expressed in a post.
"Should American forces attack civilians, they will transform into a multitude of fighters in the hills. And should they arrest the president, whom a large part of Colombians admires and supports, they will provoke the ‘jaguar’ of the populace," the president cautioned.
From Insurgent to Leader
The president dedicated part of his youth as a member with the radical M-19 insurgent movement but is not believed that he never engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he took part in creating a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as a prominent senator. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital before being elected the nation's highest office.
"I pledged to never again hold arms again ... but in defense of my country I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that the president’s security detail was strengthened.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have sided with the US president, however, leaders spanning the ideological divide have rejected the notion of an invasion targeting Colombia.
Bilateral and Economic Strains
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he called on US military personnel to refuse unlawful commands. Later, in October, it placed economic restrictions against the president, his spouse and various key allies.
At the same time as the US increased its forces in the Caribbean and striking alleged narcotics traffickers against Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets executed attacks against vessels in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
