The US President and his Colombian counterpart have escalated the tone of their war of words, further raising tensions in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela to remove the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from power.
"He runs narcotics facilities and processing labs and that won't last much longer," Trump added.
Growing Threats coupled with Accusations
Addressing the press over the weekend, Trump hinted at analogous armed intervention against Bogotá, stating the country is also "very ill" and “run by a sick man involved in producing the drug and trafficking it to the US."
While Colombia is the leading producer of cocaine, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is personally tied to the illicit industry.
A Strained Partnership
This nation was historically a staunch collaborator of the US in the campaign combating drug cartels and benefited from bipartisan support in the US capital, yet ties have soured significantly following Trump was elected.
The nation's narcotics trade is largely controlled by guerrilla factions such as the Golf Clan, the ELN guerrilla group and renegade units of the former Farc guerrillas, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Defiant Response
When asked whether armed intervention similar to Venezuela was being considered against his country, Trump replied: "It sounds good from my perspective."
Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, categorically refuted these allegations. "I am neither illegitimate and certainly not a narco," he affirmed.
"The US president speaks uninformed. End the false accusations," he wrote in a message.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will become thousands of guerrillas in the hills. If they capture the nation's leader, which many of the country loves and respects, they will release the ‘jaguar’ of the people," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to President
Petro spent part of his youth belonging in the left-wing M-19 insurgent movement though it is believed to have ever took part in armed clashes. Upon leaving the group, he participated in creating a new constitution over three decades ago subsequently becoming a respected lawmaker. He was mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he affirmed.
Heightened Measures along with Broad Condemnation
Colombia's defense chief reported that the national leader's protection team had received additional support.
Several members of Colombia’s political right have expressed support with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the ideological divide have condemned the threats of an invasion on Colombia.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington revoked his travel authorization subsequent to he called on American soldiers to refuse any illegal orders. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, his wife and various key allies.
At the same time the US was building up its forces near Venezuela and targeting suspected drug boats to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out strikes on boats in Pacific waters near Colombia.
