Donald Trump along with Colombia's president have intensified the tone in their verbal conflict, further raising strains in their relations after US forces targeted Venezuela with the aim of deposing the leader of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He operates narcotics facilities and cocaine factories and is not going to be doing it very long," Trump remarked.
Rising Threats and Accusations
Addressing reporters over the weekend, the American leader hinted at analogous armed intervention towards the South American nation, stating the country is “very sick too” and led by an unwell individual who likes making narcotics and trafficking it to the United States."
While Colombia is the globe's biggest cocaine-producing country, there is no evidence implicating Gustavo Petro, who was elected in 2022, is in any way connected to the illicit industry.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country has long been a staunch collaborator of the United States in the campaign combating drug cartels and enjoyed wide political approval in the US capital, but relations have deteriorated dramatically following Trump assumed the presidency.
Its illicit drug economy is predominantly run by guerrilla factions including one major cartel, the ELN guerrilla group and breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), most of its former fighters disbanded following a historic peace agreement.
Colombia's Strong Rebuttal
In response to a query if armed intervention comparable to Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
President Petro, an ex-guerrilla fighter who disarmed in the last century, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no an illegitimate leader and I am not involved in narcotics," he affirmed.
"Trump speaks uninformed. Stop slandering me," he posted in a message.
"Should American forces attack peasants, they will turn into thousands of guerrillas across the countryside. And should they arrest the nation's leader, which a large part of Colombians holds in high esteem, they will release the fierce spirit of the nation," the president cautioned.
From Guerrilla to Leader
Petro spent part of his youth belonging with the radical M-19 guerrilla group though it is believed to have ever engaged in fighting. After demobilizing, he was involved in writing a new constitution in the early 90s and eventually served as an influential politician. He served as mayor of Bogotá before being elected the presidency.
"I made a vow to abstain from using a weapon again ... but for the homeland I shall resume arms again," he vowed.
Increased Security and Cross-Political Opposition
The Colombian defence minister reported that the national leader's security detail had been reinforced.
Several members of Colombia’s conservative opposition have allied themselves with Trump's stance, however, leaders from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the notion of American military action against their nation.
Diplomatic and Financial Sanctions
The US withdrew Petro’s visa after he urged US troops to ignore unlawful commands. Months later, it placed asset freezes against the president, his spouse and various close collaborators.
Simultaneously the US was building up its troop levels near Venezuela and targeting alleged narcotics traffickers to pressure Venezuela’s Maduro, the US have also conducted attacks on boats off the Pacific coast off the Colombian coast.
